3 Most Popular Recipes in Japan – Recipe Guide

Our full recipe guide on the most popular recipes in Japan and how to make the most popular dishes in Japan.

For this recipe guide, we chose my favorite food: sushi, tempura and ramen.

Japanese cuisine is renowned for its variety, elegance, and balance of flavors. Here are three of the most popular Japanese dishes, complete with recipe guides for each, allowing you to recreate these flavors at home.

Read here Japan Vegan Snacks and Breakfast in Japan

Read Here best Things to know before visiting Japan and Best Japan Sim Card

WHERE TO STAY IN JAPAN

You can stay in a dorm room or a room from $20-30 USD while you can stay in a budget hotel for as low as $50-70 USD. There are so many to choose from depending on what type and how luxurious you want your stay to be starting from $200 USD.

Book your accommodations in Osaka through Agoda or Booking

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Most Popular Recipes In Japan

1. Sushi (Sushi Rolls)

Ingredients

Sushi rice:
2 cups sushi or short-grain rice
2 cups water
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp salt
Filling options:
Fresh fish (salmon, tuna, etc.), thinly sliced
Cucumber, julienned
Avocado, sliced
Crab meat or imitation crab
Nori (seaweed sheets)
Soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger for serving

How to Make Sushi

Wash the rice until the water runs clear, drain, and cook according to your rice cooker’s instructions or on the stove. Once cooked, mix the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt, then fold it into the warm rice without smashing the grains. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Place a nori sheet on a bamboo sushi mat. With wet hands, spread a thin layer of rice over the nori, leaving a small margin at the top. Arrange your choice of fillings in a line at the bottom of the rice. Roll the sushi tightly using the mat, then slice into 6-8 pieces with a sharp, wet knife. Serve with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger.

2. Ramen

Ingredients

Broth:
4 cups chicken or pork stock
1 garlic clove, smashed
1-inch piece of ginger, sliced
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp miso paste
Toppings:
Ramen noodles
Boiled eggs, halved
Sliced green onions
Sliced pork or chicken
Spinach or bok choy
Nori or seaweed
Sesame seeds

How to Make Ramen – Full Recipe Here

In a large pot, combine the stock, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and miso. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes. Strain out solids. In a separate pot, cook the ramen noodles according to package instructions, then drain.

Place noodles in a bowl. Pour hot broth over noodles. Arrange toppings attractively on top.
Serve hot, allowing each person to customize their bowl with additional toppings like chili oil or more soy sauce.

3. Tempura

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg, beaten
1 cup ice-cold water
Salt
Assorted vegetables and seafood (shrimp, sweet potato slices, green beans, mushrooms)

How to Make Tempura

Mix the flour, egg, and ice water in a bowl. The batter should be lumpy, not smooth. Prepare Ingredients: Cut vegetables and seafood into bite-sized pieces. In a deep fryer or large pot, heat vegetable oil to 375°F (190°C).

Lightly dust your ingredients with some plain flour, then dip into the batter. Fry in batches until lightly golden, not browned. The coating should be thin and crisp. Serve immediately with a dipping sauce made from dashi, soy sauce, and mirin.