Japanese food, which was once considered a niche cuisine in American cooking, is now a popular choice. In America, heavy and often deep-fried foods dominate the market. The Japanese cuisine's harmony of flavors and lightness appeals to many. Many people fear that the Iron Chef will make their plates look like they are eating ethnic food. It is not true! This article aims to expose readers to different Japanese dishes so that they may try something new and not be afraid of what they will eat.
Domburi - This dish is basically a bowl made of rice and topped with some kind of topping. A variety of toppings are popular in Japan, many of which have successfully migrated across the Pacific and into American restaurants. Oyakodon is one example of such a dish. It uses chicken and eggs for its topping. Gyudon is another type of domburi and it's more popular in Japan than fast food. For those who enjoy a more formal taste, you might want to try unadon. This is a type domburi in which strips of grilled fish are coated in a thick soya-based sauce and topped with rice.
Ramen is a soup that has been a staple on the American college student's menu for years. Ramen is an international favorite. To the Japanese, it's the equivalent of a burger or fries. Ramen comes with a wide variety of bases, but is most well-known for its long and thin noodles. Dumplings, pork, miso (fermented soya beans) and soy sauce are all great accompaniments to these noodles. It's interesting that ramen is associated with Japan nowadays, even though it was developed in China.
Sashimi (or sushi): People who are unfamiliar with Japanese cuisine often mistake this dish as sushi. Although it is often presented artistically, the fact remains that sashimi is raw fish, a truth which turns the stomach of many a squeamish American. There are many kinds of sashimi available, with the most well-known being tuna. Diners should be lend particular attention to the scent when partaking of this dish. You must ensure that the fish used in sashimi preparation is fresh.
Sushi: Perhaps the most well-recognized of all Japanese dishes, sushi has become particularly popular in trendy regions of the United States. It is Oao served in too many variations to list completely in the space of this article. To qualify as sushi, the dish must include rice with sushi vinegar. Norimaki, also known as sushi rolls, is the most well-known form of sushi. These rolls are made up of sushi rice and different types of seafood, wrapped in seaweed sheets. Norimaki often contains vegetables.
Tempura: This Japanese-inspired dish is also very popular. Tempura, which is a kind of finger food, is made up of various seafood and/or vegetables that have been fried in a special sauce. The result is delicious, crispy and not too heavy as deep fried food in America. The ingredients featured in tempura are too numerous to possibly list and often vary wildly from one restaurant to the next.
These five dishes are a good introduction to Japanese cuisine. Enjoy!