Posts

Japanese mayonnaise (マヨネーズ) better known as Kewpie mayo—is a pantry staple in almost every Japanese household. Known for its richer egg flavor and umami goodness, Japanese mayo has become a cult favorite among foodies worldwide. David Chang, the famous chef and founder of the Momofuku restaurant group, even calls it “the best mayonnaise in the world.” I have to agree! Thanks to its popularity, you can easily find Japanese mayonnaise outside of Japan these days....

Hello again, Japanese food enthusiasts! I’m excited to have you join us for our June Cooking Challenge. As we enter the start of summer break (which means a busy travel season), I wanted us to get back into the weeknight groove of simple, delicious, and healthy dinners. This Month’s Recipe Challenge: Chicken Teriyaki The recipe for this challenge is Chicken Teriyaki. Why chicken teriyaki? Because nothing is more classic than chicken teriyaki when it comes to Japanese home cooking....

Set deep within Wakayama’s serene mountain ranges lies Koyasan (Mount Koya), one of Japan’s most sacred areas. Founded in 816 by monk Kobo Daishi, also known as Kukai (774 – 835 AD), the mountaintop sanctuary is the spearhead of Shingon Buddhism in the country. The area’s beauty and serenity have welcomed emperors, feudal lords, and politicians for centuries. Now, visitors can soak in Koyasan’s charm while staying in a temple lodging....

London Broil is the perfect easy, affordable, hand’s-off dinner whether for weeknights or special occasions. It boasts minimal prep with huge tender, juicy dividends. The spectacular London Broil marinade is made with soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, brown sugar and seasonings that infuse the steak with complex tangy, sweet and savory notes. To make this London Broil recipe, simply marinate the steak and broil – that’s it for a melt-in-your-mouth steak dinner every time – with almost ZERO cleanup!...

Though Matar Pulav is enjoyed year-round, it is traditionally a winter recipe. In India, green peas are typically harvested in November, during the winter season. Freshly harvested green peas are celebrated in many winter dishes, such as Matar ka Nimona or Kovalam Matar. But thanks to frozen green peas, we can make it anytime of the year! It’s a beloved dish in many Indian households, each with its own twist....

Matcha chocolate, or what we call Matcha Nama Chocolate (抹茶生チョコレート) in Japan, is a special treat that practically melts in your mouth. As I was testing my Matcha Chocolate recipe, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop eating them, so Mr. JOC took them to work. He told me later, “The green tea chocolate disappeared in seconds.” I promise you, it’s really good! Read on as I share with you my recipe, tips, and techniques for making these irresistible white chocolate and matcha squares....

Mazesoba (まぜそば), a Japanese brothless ramen noodle, was one on our must-eat list when we visited Nagoya several years ago. Nagoya food or Nagoya meshi (名古屋めし) is unique to Nagoya and its surroundings in Aichi Prefecture and cannot be found anywhere else in Japan. I’ve shared a few well-known Nagoya meshi such as Miso Katsu, Hitsumabushi (Unagi Chazuke), Nagoya-Style Fried Chicken Wings, and Ogura Toast on the blog. And today, I’m bringing you the popular mazesoba (or mazemen) recipe that can easily be made at home!...

I once read that the essence of a culture is in the words that cannot be translated. Explained yes, but not directly translated. The example given by the author was of Urdu word “takalluf”. “Takalluf” is that polite first and often second time refusal of an offer that stems from good manners. Someone asks for tea and you politely refuse the first time, perhaps even the second even as your eyes are practically glued shut from exhaustion....

While my mom was visiting from Japan during Christmas and New Years, we got to cook together a couple of times. I invited her to be my guest chef so all I needed to do is to take pictures while she’s cooking. If you are a food blogger who takes step-by-step pictures of cooking for every recipe, like Manu of Manu’s Menu, you know how hectic and time-consuming it is having to wash hands after each step in order to take pictures....

What do you enjoy eating during the cold winter months? In Japan, the winter season means one thing: it’s time for hot pot. Families gather at one table to cook and eat together from a shared steamy pot. Surrounding the pot is smaller dishes of meat, seafood, and vegetables, all prepped and ready to be cooked in the broth and eaten in an intimate yet casual manner. Depending on the regions, there are many different styles of hot pot dishes (Nabemono 鍋物) being enjoyed throughout Japan....

The Mulato pepper (“Chile Mulato”) is a mild to medium dried Poblano pepper, similar to the Ancho, but with a slightly different flavor. Both are green while growing, but while the Ancho pepper is a Poblano pepper that ripens to a deep red, the Mulato pepper is a Poblano that ripens to a dark brown color, then dried. It grows to about 4 inches long and 2 inches wide, tapering toward the bottom....

In my many years of cooking for the family, I’ve learned to count on one-pan and one-bowl recipes for busy weekdays. When the kids come home hungry, I can immediately cook up a decent hot meal for them without having to succumb to take-out or instant noodles! If you find yourself in need for inspiration, I would love for you to try Niratama Donburi (ニラ玉丼ぶり), or Garlic Chives and Egg Over Rice!...

Among all the Osaka specialties, Takoyaki (たこ焼き) and Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) are the most well-known. Today I’m sharing my favorite Okonomiyaki recipe with you so you can make this popular street food at home! What is Okonomiyaki? Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is a savory Japanese cabbage pancake. I’ve seen okonomiyaki referred to as a “Japanese pizza” or “Japanese frittata” in the U.S. The batter is made with flour, tempura scraps (tenkasu), grated yam (nagaimo or yamaimo), and eggs....

One of the easiest side dishes you can make to accompany your Japanese meal is Ohitashi. Today I’m sharing Okra Ohitashi (オクラのおひたし) or Japanese Okra Salad. This simple vegetable recipe is super handy when you are in need of something refreshing and wholesome to balance the dinner. What is Ohitashi? Ohitashi (おひたし) is a Japanese cooking method, meaning “soaking”, which is turned into a dish name. Yes, it’s like Teriyaki, a cooking method (applying glossy sauce + grill) that has been doubled as a dish name....

This spinach rice is a quick, nutritious and wholesome one-pot dish with some added veggies for more flavor and texture. Instead of veggies you can add small cubes of paneer or tofu, and enjoy it as palak paneer rice or palak tofu rice for a vegan version. So yummy! WHAT IS PALAK? Spinach is known as ‘palak’ in Hindi. There are so many different types of palak recipes in the Indian cuisine, from the ever so popular palak paneer, to other curries like dal palak, saag paneer, palak kadhi, palak aloo gravy, chole palak, palak chicken, to rice dishes like palak biryani, palak chawal/palak rice, palak corn rice or corn palak pulao, dal palak khichdi, flatbreads like palak paratha, palak poori, and even snacks like croquettes and spinach rice balls....

That’s it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this paloma drink, the perfect combination of tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda and juice. Leave a review below! What is a Paloma? A Paloma is a Mexican tequila cocktail known for it’s citrusy flavors, particularly grapefruit. The name means “the dove” in Spanish. It is sort of a cross between a margarita and a greyhound cocktail, a light and refreshing drink that’s perfect for summer, though ready to be enjoyed all year long....

Everyone remembers the first time they had this dish. Especially if they had it at Kolachi, with it’s twinkling night time , sticky salty sea breeze, the smell of barbecue permeating the air. I remember it too. It was right after my brothers wedding and while I was happily trying all the regular fare, I took a bite of this handi and was blown away. What does Paneer Reshmi Handi taste like?...

Pani Puri is a popular Indian street food known by various names all over the country. In Mumbai, it is known as pani puri, as golgappa or gol gappay in Delhi, and puchka in Kolkatta and pani ke batashe in Uttar Pradesh, gupchup in Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Telangana. Different names for the same yummy thing! So what is pani puri? Pani means water in Hindi and puri is a hollow, deep-fried, crispy sphere....

I love grilled chicken! Marinating and grilling chicken makes for the easiest dinner with little prep – and zero cleanup. Some of my favorite grilled chicken recipes include Greek Chicken, Chili Lime Chicken, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Chipotle Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken, Buffalo Chicken, Lemon Herb Chicken, Korean Chicken and now introducing Pollo Asado! pin this recipe to save for later WHAT IS POLLO ASADO? The Spanish word “pollo” translated to English means “chicken,” and asado means “roasted” or “barbecued” so pollo asado means roasted or barbecued chicken....

As you may already know, traditional Japanese food doesn’t have spicy dishes. Back then when I was growing up, foreign ingredients such as bell peppers, bok choy, zucchini, and avocado were not common at the supermarkets. But time has changed and Japanese cuisine has evolved with so many new flavors and spices. Korean cuisine, in particular, has influenced how families eat at home in Japan. For example, kimchi has become a staple dish and there are many Japanese-style, milder Korean recipes that have taken the stage of Japanese dinner tables and in lunch boxes....