Tuna Tataki Tataki literally means ‘pounded’ but in Japanese cooking it usually refers to meat or fish that’s been lightly seared then thinly sliced, so that it’s just cooked on the outside and still raw on the inside, like this tuna tataki. Some sources claim ‘tataki’ refers to the traditional accompaniment of pounded ginger, others […]
Teriyaki Salmon Skewers I love grilled salmon, especially when it’s basted with the salty-sweet-umami-rich sauce used on these teriyaki salmon skewers. The sauce can be made and skewers threaded ahead of time, so this is a great quick and easy dish for entertaining too. Serve it as a starter, or add steamed rice and a […]
Fish Katsu Sando Use any firm, thick, white-fleshed fish for these delicious sandwiches which are traditionally made with pork schnitzel (tonkatsu). Crumbed prawns or chicken work wonderfully too – it’s really all about that spicy tonkatsu sauce. I like mine quite spicy, and serve extra Japanese mustard on the side, but you can tone it […]
Furikake Edamame Edamame, soybeans in the pod, are a popular bar snack all over Japan – a bit like beer nuts or pretzels. You can buy them frozen from Asian grocers to have on hand when friends drop by for a drink. Simply blanch them (or better still pop them in the microwave for a […]
Japanese Cheesecake Pancake The Japanese are masters at taking something from another culture and making it their own – their super-light and springy cheesecake is a great example. It’s sometimes called cotton cake, jiggly cake or soufflé cake because it’s so light and fluffy. I’d heard it’s tricky to master, but thought I’d give it […]
Chestnut Rice Chestnuts are a favourite autumn food in Japan in both savoury and sweet dishes. At their simplest, yakiguri (roasted chestnuts) are sold to passers-by from mobile street stands just as they are in Europe. For something slightly more filling they’re combined with rice in this simple and delicious classic dish of kuri gohan. […]
Miso & Sesame Cookies Japanese sweets often have an intriguing blend of sweet and savoury, and if you like the black sesame cookies in our Month of Japanese, you’ll love these miso-spiked ones too. I like white miso for its mild taste, but you can experiment with different ones if you like a more savoury […]
Tempura Tempura is an example of how the Japanese take inspiration from other cultures and make it their own. Battered fried seafood and vegetables was introduced to Japan by Portuguese missionaries in the 1700s – the Japanese lightened the batter, added a delicate dipping sauce and created what is now considered one of their most […]
