In recent years, Japanese cuisine has been gaining popularity, having once been a niche in American cuisine. The harmony of flavors and lightness emphasized in the typical Japanese dish appeals to the palettes of many in the United States, where heavy and often deep fried foods have long dominated the market. This aspect of ethnic cuisine is often overlooked by many people. They fear they will find something that looks like it was prepared by the Iron Chef. This is far from the truth! This article is meant to show readers a range of Japanese cuisines so they can try new things without worrying about what they'll eat.
Domburi: This is simply a bowl containing rice, with some topping. Many toppings are quite popular in Japan. Some of them have made their way to the United States. Oyakodon (which uses both chicken breast and egg as its topping) is one example. Gyudon, another type of domburi that is rich in beef, is becoming more popular in Japan. If you are a keen taster, unadon is a type of domburi that includes strips of grilled eel covered in thick soya sauce.
Ramen: This soup has been a staple for American college students for years. Ramen is a popular soup that's enjoyed all over the globe. It is as beloved by the Japanese as a hamburger and fries. Ramen is available in many bases but it's best known for its long, thin noodles. Complimenting these noodles are such ingredients as dumplings, pork, miso (fermented soybeans) and soya sauce. It is interesting to see that ramen was first created in China and not Japan. But, it is almost always associated with Japan today.
Sashimi - This dish is sometimes mistaken for sushi by those who are new to Japanese cuisine. While it is often presented artistically sashimi still tastes like raw fish. This is something that many Americans find hard to swallow. There are many types of sashimi, with the most popular being tuna. The smell of the dish should be taken into consideration by diners. The fish used to prepare sashimi must be exceptionally fresh and as such, it should be devoid of any fishy scent.
Sushi: One of the most well-known Japanese dishes, sushi is very popular in trendy places throughout the United States. There are far too many options to mention all the variations. To be considered sushi the dish must contain sushi-grade rice. Norimaki (or sushi rolls) is the most widely recognized type of sushi. These rolls contain sushi rice and various sorts of seafood rolled in sheets of dried seaweed. Norimaki may also contain vegetables.
Tempura is a popular Japanese dish. Tempura can be described as a finger food that consists of different types of seafood and/or vegetable fried in a special batter. The Oao Sushi end result is a delightful treat which is crisp without being heavy, as is often the case with deep fried cuisine in America. There are many ingredients that go into tempura. These ingredients can vary greatly from one restaurant or another.
These five dishes should offer a great introduction to Japanese cuisine for the novice chef. Enjoy!