Japanese Cuisine

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This page was created on 10 May, 2007.

When most people refer to Japanese food, they are thinking of the well-known sushi or beef teriyaki. However, Japanese cuisine is more diverse than many people expect and offers a large variety of dishes and regional specialties. In this lesson we will explore some famous (and tasty!) Japanese dishes and also learn about Japanese dining etiquette. Also, at the end of the lesson there will be a collection of recipes so you can try making and tasting the foods that you learn about in this lesson.

Before we start talking about actual Japanese dishes, it's important to note that Japanese people use chopsticks to eat. If you don't know how to use chopsticks, grab a pair of chopsticks and practice along with the video below. If you don't have a pair of chopsticks with you, you can substitute them with two pencils or sticks.

• Ramen
• Donburi
• Yakitori
• Soba
• Korokke
• Okonomiyaki

Ramen

Ramen is a popular noodle dish that originated from China. The broth is meat-based. The noodles are often topped with sliced meat, seaweed, green onions, or other toppings. There are many variations of ramen available.

Donburi

A donburi is rice covered with a topping. The name literally means "bowl." There are many varieties of donburi. Fish, meat, or vegetables are simmered in sauce and placed on top of rice.

Yakitori

Yakitori literally means "grilled bird" and refers to skewered chicken. It is very popular and commonly sold as a snack on street stalls.

Soba

A thin Japanese buckwheat noodle that is served either hot in a broth or chilled and dipped in a dipping sauce, soba is a popular and inexpensive fast food and usually eaten with chopsticks. In the picture above, the soba is served on a woven bamboo tray called a zaru.

Korokke

Korokke is a deep-fried food that is sold in bakeries. It consists of a deep-fried patty of mixed vegetables, meat, or seafood with mashed potatoes and covered with breadcrumbs.

Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a pan-fried batter cake filled with vegetables or meats. It is a very easy dish to make. Learn how to make your own Okonomiyaki below!

Make your own Okonomiyaki!

Dough:
• 3 cups of flour
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 eggs
• Cabbage

1. Cut four large, green cabbage leaves without the hard, white core in thin strings.
2. Mix the water, flour, eggs and the cabbage strings together.
3. Fry the dough like a pancake in a small frying pan.
4. Before turning the okonomiyaki over, and while the dough is still quite soft, you may put other ingredients on top of the dough.
5. Turn the okonomiyaki.
6. Enjoy!

How to Make Sushi

• Amaebi – Sweet shrimp
• Boston Rolls – Crab, salmon, and scallion
• California – Crab and avocado
• Ebi – Shrimp
• Egg Salad Rolls – Hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, and green onion strips
• Hamachi – Yellow Tail
• Hirame - Halibut
• Hotate – Scallop
• Ika – Squid
• Ikura – Salmon roe
• Kani - Crab
• Kappa Ma – Cucumber
• Maguro – Tuna
• Masago – Smelt Roe
• Mirugai – Giant clam
• Saba – Mackerel
• Sake - Salmon
• Tako - Octopus
• Tai – Red snapper
• Tamago – Egg
• Tekka Maki – Tuna Roll
• Temaki – Spicy tuna
• Toro – Fatty Tuna
• Unagi – Eel
• Uni – Sea urchin

• A bamboo rolling mat (Makisu)
• Cutting board
• A sharp knife
• Wooden spatula
• Large bowl
• Short-grain white rice
• Rice vinegar
• Sugar
• Nori Seaweed
• Wasabi (green Japanese mustard)
• Seafood and vegetables (differs depending on sushi you're making)
• Soy sauce

1. Use the wooden spatula to spread about a cup of vinegared white rice on the sheet of nori. Leave an inch of one side of the nori uncovered at one end. The rice should be about 1/4 inch thick. Don't use too much rice.
2. Place the avocado slices on top of the rice. Then, split a piece of imitation crab meat lengthwise into two pieces and place them on top of the avocado. Then add several strips of cucumber.
   
   
3. Fold the mat over the avocado, crab meat, and cucumber and continue rolling the nori.
4. Remove the mat from the roll. Cut the roll in half, then cut each half into thirds or quarters. Important: Dip the knife in cold water to keep it moist and prevent it from sticking to the rice.
5. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds for added flavor.

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