10+ Japanese Recipes You’ll Love to Try

Japanese cuisine has rich flavors and emphasizes fresh ingredients. Whether you are new to cooking or a seasoned chef, you can enjoy the delightful experience of making Japanese dishes at home.

Exploring Japanese recipes can help you bring authentic flavors and traditions to your kitchen.

From sushi to ramen, the variety of options makes this cuisine exciting. You can learn simple techniques to create mouthwatering meals that impress your family and friends.

So, get ready to dive into the world of Japanese cooking and discover new favorites!

1) Chicken Wingettes Karaage

Chicken wingettes karaage is a delicious Japanese dish that is perfect for any occasion. This recipe gives the chicken wings a crispy texture with a savory flavor.

To make this dish, start by marinating the wings in soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sake for extra flavor. Let them soak for about 30 minutes.

Next, coat the marinated wings in potato starch. This helps achieve a crispy exterior when fried.

Heat your oil to 350°F (175°C) in a deep pan. Then, fry the wings until they are golden brown and cooked through.

Serve the chicken wingettes hot, perhaps with a side of lemon wedges for added zest.

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken wingettes
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp sake
• 1 Tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp grated garlic
• 1/2 cup potato starch
• Oil for frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix soy sauce, sake, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic in a bowl.
2. Marinate chicken wingettes in the mixture for 30 minutes.
3. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) in a deep pan.
4. Coat marinated wings in potato starch.
5. Fry wings until golden brown.
6. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

2) Salmon Avocado Rolls

Making salmon avocado rolls at home is a fun way to enjoy sushi. These rolls blend fresh salmon and creamy avocado, offering a tasty combination.

To start, gather your ingredients. You’ll need sushi rice, nori (seaweed), fresh salmon, avocado, and optional sauces like eel sauce or spicy mayo for added flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sushi rice
• 2 sheets nori
• 4 ounces fresh salmon, sliced
• 1 ripe avocado, sliced
• Optional: eel sauce, spicy mayo

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook sushi rice according to package instructions and let it cool.
2. Place a sheet of nori on a bamboo mat.
3. Spread a layer of sushi rice evenly over the nori.
4. Arrange salmon and avocado slices in the center.
5. Roll tightly using the bamboo mat.
6. Slice into pieces and serve with optional sauces.

3) Spicy Tuna Rolls

Making spicy tuna rolls at home is fun and easy. You can enjoy delicious sushi right in your kitchen!

To start, you need sushi rice, which is sticky and perfect for rolling. You’ll also need sushi-grade tuna. This ensures the best flavor and safety for your sushi.

For the spicy kick, mix Japanese mayonnaise, like Kewpie, with sriracha. This adds creaminess and heat to your rolls.

Don’t forget the nori sheets to wrap everything together!

Ingredients

• 2 cups sushi rice
• 3 oz sushi-grade tuna, minced
• 2 tablespoons Kewpie mayonnaise
• ½ tablespoon sriracha
• Nori sheets

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook sushi rice according to package instructions.
2. In a bowl, mix the minced tuna, Kewpie mayonnaise, and sriracha.
3. Lay a nori sheet on a bamboo mat.
4. Spread a thin layer of rice over the nori.
5. Add the tuna mixture on top and roll it tightly.
6. Slice into pieces and enjoy!

4) Tempura Prawn Rolls

Tempura prawn rolls are a delicious twist on traditional sushi. They feature crispy tempura prawns wrapped with fresh vegetables for a delightful crunch. You will love how easy they are to make at home.

To prepare these rolls, you’ll need nori sheets, tempura prawns, cucumber, and avocado. The combination of textures makes each bite enjoyable. A touch of mayonnaise can add extra creaminess.

Ingredients

• 4 sheets of nori
• 8 pre-cooked tempura prawns
• 8 strips of cucumber
• 8 slices of avocado
• Mayonnaise (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Place a sheet of nori on a bamboo mat.
2. Layer the tempura prawns, cucumber, and avocado on the nori.
3. Roll the mat tightly, forming a sushi roll.
4. Slice the roll into bite-sized pieces.
5. Serve with soy sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.

5) Chicken Teriyaki

Chicken Teriyaki is a classic Japanese dish that’s both easy to make and delicious. You can prepare it in less than 20 minutes.

To get started, make the teriyaki sauce by mixing soy sauce, sake, mirin, and sugar. This sweet and savory sauce gives the chicken its amazing flavor.

Next, sear the chicken in a hot pan until it’s browned. After that, braise it in the sauce until fully cooked.

This dish pairs perfectly with rice or vegetables for a complete meal.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken thighs or breasts
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons sake
• 2 tablespoons mirin
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Cooking Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, sake, mirin, and sugar.
2. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
3. Add chicken and sear until browned on both sides.
4. Pour sauce over the chicken.
5. Cook until chicken is fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes.

6) Miso Soup

Miso soup is a comforting Japanese dish that’s quick to prepare. You can make it in just 15 minutes. This soup typically includes miso paste, tofu, and seaweed, making it both savory and satisfying.

You can easily customize miso soup by adding vegetables like green onions or mushrooms. The flavor will vary based on the type of miso paste you choose, whether it’s white, red, or yellow.

This soup is often served with rice for a complete meal. Enjoy the warmth and nutrition that miso soup brings to your table.

Ingredients

• 4 cups dashi stock
• 3 tablespoons miso paste
• 6 ounces silken tofu, cubed
• 1/4 cup wakame seaweed, soaked and chopped
• 2 green onions, chopped

Cooking Instructions

1. In a pot, heat the dashi stock over medium heat.
2. Add the miso paste and stir until dissolved.
3. Gently add the tofu and wakame.
4. Heat for a few minutes, then add green onions.
5. Serve hot and enjoy!

7) Gyudon (Japanese Beef Bowl)

Gyudon is a delicious Japanese beef bowl that is quick and easy to make. It features thin slices of beef, onions, and a savory-sweet sauce served over rice. This dish is perfect for a comforting meal any time.

To make gyudon, you start by cooking the beef and onions in a mixture of soy sauce, mirin, and sake. The flavors blend together beautifully, making your kitchen smell amazing. Serve it over hot steamed rice for a filling dish.

Ingredients

• 1 pound (450 g) thinly sliced beef
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 cup (240 ml) soy sauce
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) mirin
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) sake
• 2 cups (300 g) steamed rice
• Green onions for garnish (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. In a pan, heat the sake, soy sauce, and mirin over medium heat.
2. Add onions and cook until soft.
3. Stir in the sliced beef and cook until it’s browned.
4. Serve the beef mixture over a bowl of steamed rice.
5. Garnish with green onions if desired. Enjoy!

8) Dashimaki Tamago

Dashimaki Tamago is a delicious Japanese rolled omelette that features a soft and fluffy texture. This dish is seasoned with dashi, which is a Japanese stock made from fish and kelp, adding a unique umami flavor.

Making Dashimaki Tamago can be fun and rewarding. It is often served in bento boxes or enjoyed as a side dish. The slight sweetness from the mirin pairs perfectly with the savory eggs.

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon mirin
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoons dashi or konbu dashi
• 2 teaspoons cooking oil

Cooking Instructions

1. In a bowl, whisk the eggs, mirin, salt, and dashi until blended.
2. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and add oil.
3. Pour a thin layer of the egg mixture into the pan.
4. Cook until slightly set, then roll it to one side.
5. Add more egg mixture, lifting the rolled part to allow it to flow underneath.
6. Repeat the rolling process until you finish the mixture.
7. Remove from the pan and let it cool slightly before slicing.

9) Ramen with Tonkotsu Broth

Tonkotsu ramen is famous for its rich and creamy broth made from pork bones. You can achieve a deep flavor by boiling the bones for hours, which extracts all the goodness.

To make a satisfying bowl, you’ll need fresh ramen noodles. You can find these at most Asian grocery stores or online.

Toppings are also important. Common choices include soft-boiled eggs, green onions, and slices of pork belly.

Ingredients

• 3-4 pounds pork bones
• Fresh ramen noodles
• Soft-boiled eggs
• Green onions
• Pork belly slices
• Tare (seasoning sauce)

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse the pork bones under cold water.
2. Place the bones in a large pot and cover with water.
3. Boil for 12 hours on medium heat.
4. Strain the broth and return it to the pot.
5. Cook the ramen noodles according to package instructions.
6. Serve the noodles in bowls, topping with broth and your choice of toppings.

10) Japanese Cheesecake

Japanese cheesecake has a light, fluffy texture. It’s often called “soufflé cheesecake” because it has a soft and jiggly feel. This unique dessert blends the richness of cheesecake with the airy qualities of a soufflé.

To make this delicious treat, you will need cream cheese, eggs, sugar, flour, and milk. The baking process involves careful temperature control to achieve that perfect rise without cracking.

Ingredients

• 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese
• 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
2. Beat cream cheese until smooth.
3. Add sugar, flour, eggs, milk, and vanilla; mix well.
4. Pour the batter into a greased springform pan.
5. Bake in a water bath for about 60 minutes.
6. Let the cake cool before serving.