Japan

Udon is a traditional, thick Japanese noodle prepared using wheat flour. Udon can be prepared in many different ways and is considered a comfort dish for many locals. However, the simplest version is in a hot soup known as kake udon, along with a broth (commonly known as kakejiru). The broth is prepared using dashi, …

Sea urchins are spherical, hard-shelled animals generally found on the seabed of every ocean. They usually live in cracks and crevices on coastal rocks and reefs. Despite the fact that it may appear odd to consume the spiny sea urchin, it is in fact relished in several countries around the world. Some of them include …

Dorayaki is a Japanese dessert comprising of two small pancake-like patties that are prepared by first making a castella cake. The castella cake is made into patty shapes which are then stuffed with sweet azuki bean paste. Many variations also use custard cream, chestnuts, and cream (matcha cream, cream with fruits, etc.) as the filling. …

Takuan, also known as takuan-zuke, is a pickled Japanese daikon radish. The pickle is yellow in colour, comes in thick strips and is frequently served along with other kinds of tsukemono (Japanese-style pickles) in typical Japanese cuisine. Japanese daikon radish is generally sweet and mild in taste and has a good crunch to it. Hence, …

Castella, also known as Kasutera, is a traditional Japanese sponge cake prepared using bread flour, sugar, honey, and eggs. It is a type of wagashi (a traditional Japanese sweet meat) consisting of dark brown top and bottom crusts. The inside of this cake is a creamy yellow and its texture is very moist and bouncy. …

Wasp crackers, also called Jibachi Senbei, are a Japanese snack similar to senbei rice crackers but filled with digger wasps. Other ingredients include water, eggs, sugar, salt, oil, sesame seeds and soy sauce. Old wasp hunters (most of them in their 80s) set traps near the neighboring countryside to capture the wasps. They are then …

Tekka maki is a popular type of Japanese sushi roll made of raw tuna. Also known as Tuna roll, tekka maki is a typical hosomaki, covered with nori seaweed on the outside. The dish is prepared using just a few ingredients, which includes the whole slices of lean tuna, sushi rice, rice vinegar, salt, and …

Takoyaki, also known as octopus balls, is a Japanese dish consisting of minced octopus meat (tako), tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger (benishoga), and green onion (negi) in a wheat flour-based batter. It is then cooked in a unique molded pan in the shape of balls. The cooked balls are then coated with takoyaki sauce and …

Okonomiyaki sauce is the sauce used on Okonomiyaki, which are like Japanese pancakes or frittatas made from eggs, flour, cabbage, slices of pork belly and scallions. However, it’s the sauce that brings it all together, a condiment that is typically brought in a bottle and added to the pancakes to give it a sweet, tangy, …

Fugu is a puffer fish delicacy eaten in Japan which, if prepared incorrectly, can be deadly to eat. This is because there are toxic parts of the poison tetrodotoxin in the fish’s organs which neat to be prepared properly in order to prevent it from contaminating the meat. There are always those who cannot resist …

Bukkake udon is a refreshing summer dish eaten in Japan that consists of cold boiled udon noodles and a variety of different sauces and garnishing combinations, depending on taste. Common seasonings include ginger, vegetables, scallions, meat, poached egg and wasabi. Whilst Bukkake Udon is a filling and hearty dish, it is a fairly light meal, …

Considered to be the most expensive fruit in the whole world, Yubari Kings are a type of melon grown and sold in Japan. Grown exclusively in Yubari on Hokkaido, Yubari King melons are famous for their sweetness. They are basically a hybrid of two other cantaloupe cultivars: Earl’s Favourite and Burpee’s “Spicy” Cantaloupe. Yubari King …

Aburaage is a traditional Japanese dish consisting of deep-fried, thinly sliced tofu. It is more popular than standard tofu because of the firm texture and ease to pick it up with chopsticks.  Different varieties of aburaage are used in Japanese cuisine including inari-age and astu-age. Inari-age is a kind of aburaage, smoldered with soy sauce, dashi …

Hanami Dango (or Sanshoku Dango) is a traditional Japanese rice flour dessert which is particularly enjoyed during the custom tradition of flower viewing (Hanami) each year. This sweet rice dumpling delicacy is formed into three small balls in different colors, skewered together in the centre with a bamboo stick. Dango is commonly served with green tea. …

Konpeitō is a small, cute sugar confectionery that is consumed during the Hinamatsuri festival in Japan. Additionally, it is a popular gift for weddings and childbirth celebrations. To understand the popularity and significance of these candies, let’s go all the way back to the origin of Konpeitō. History of Konpeitō Konpeitō, along with castella and …

Onigiri are Japanese rice balls that are stuffed with various fillings and are wrapped in dried seaweed leaves. They are very suitable as a fresh, healthy and wholesome snack on the go. Onigiri not only makes rice easy to eat but also contains a delicious filling that brings a unique taste to it. The shapes …

Japanese cuisine is famous around the world for its taste, variety of seasonal dishes and its wide range of health benefits. With its aesthetics of beautifully presented food and the use of fresh, high quality, seasonal ingredients, it’s no wonder that Japanese dishes are so delicious and loved by people around the world. Most Popular …

Daifuku is a type of wagashi (Japanese sweet), stuffed with sweet red bean paste which is a popular snack in Japan. Daifuku is a a “mochi” which is a type of small, sticky bun made from soft rice. Origin of Daifuku Daifuku or Daifuku Mochi is considered a Japanese snack, which is usually served with …