What is a basic Japanese dinner?

A typical Japanese dinner includes rice, soup, pickles, salad, and protein and vegetable dishes . Beverages, such as tea, beer, and sake, are served alongside, and the meal may be followed by dessert. The dishes include classic Japanese foods, and other Asian and Western cuisines influence many modern recipes.

What 2 foods are served at every meal in Japan?

Japanese cuisine is sublime in its intricacy of flavor, its variety of seasonal dishes, and its surprising health benefits. A typical Japanese meal is based on combining staples; rice or noodles are almost always served with soup, pickles and at least one okazu side dish of fish, meat vegetable or tofu.

What is Japan main meal of the day?

Dinner is the main meal of the day in Japan . As with lunch and breakfast, typical meals often include rice, a main protein, miso soup, and vegetable sides.

What do Japanese eat for lunch at home?

The midday meal in Japan often consists of rice or noodle dishes such as ramen, soba and udon bowls . Many people will also take a boxed lunch, known as a bentō, to class or to work with them.

What is the most eaten thing in Japan?

The most popular traditional Japanese dish is sushi . It is a dish of vinegared rice topped with raw fish or seafood. Sushi is thought to have originated in China in the 1st or 2nd century BC, but it was not until the Edo period (1603-1868) that it became popular in Japan.

What does a typical Japanese dinner look like?

The most traditional Japanese meal is a serving of plain, white rice, along with a main dish (fish or meat), some kind of side dish (often cooked vegetables), soup (either miso soup or clear broth), and pickled vegetables .

What do Japanese eat on Christmas?

The Japanese have their unique traditions, especially when it comes to Christmas cuisine, and one particular dish has become synonymous with the holiday season – fried chicken . Yes, you read that right! A bucket of KFC fried chicken has become a must-have for many Japanese households on Christmas day since 1970.

What is the staple food of Japan?

Rice has long been the main staple of the traditional Japanese diet. It is not only consumed daily as a staple food but also used to brew sake, a traditional alcoholic drink. Japanese cuisine has developed the art of pro- viding side dishes to complement consumption of the staple food.

What is a Japanese lunch between two slices of bread?

Katsu-sando is a Japanese lunch time staple; a fried pork cutlet in between two slices of bread.

What does a typical dinner look like in Japan?

For day to day eating, dinner is a far less fancy affair. Food is usually served in small dishes with a separate bowl for each side. Miso soup and rice are constants, with the other dishes consisting of a type of protein, usually fish, and a side or two involving a vegetable.

What is a traditional Japanese formal dinner?

Kaiseki (懐石) or kaiseki-ryōri (懐石料理) is a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner. The term also refers to the collection of skills and techniques that allow the preparation of such meals and is analogous to Western haute cuisine.

What is typical Japan dinner time?

In Japan, dinner time is usually early, and it is not customary to have dinner late at night like in Western countries. The time for Japanese dinner is usually between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm , and the time of work and rest may vary between different families and individuals.

What is the signature dish of Japan?

There are various kinds of sushi dishes, such as nigirizushi (hand formed sushi), makizushi (rolled sushi) and chirashi (sushi rice topped with raw fish) . Sushi is the most famous Japanese dish outside of Japan, and one of the most popular dishes inside Japan, as well.

Weeknight Meal Ideas: 15 Easy Japanese Recipes (2024)

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Weeknight Meal Ideas: Easy Japanese recipes for a quick, reliable dinner you can make for the family at the end of a long day.

Weeknight Meal Ideas: 15 Easy Japanese Recipes (1)

What do you make on those nights when you’re tired but still just want something nourishing & healthy for the family? If you love a quick dinner like I do on most days, here are some family-friendly Japanese recipes that are tasty yet easy-to-follow.

These recipes are perfect for weeknight meals as they can be prepped in less than 1 hour! They are my go-to rotations, so I hope they will help you plan your meals as well.

15 Easy Japanese Recipes for Weeknight Meals

1. Easy Fried Rice (Gluten-Free) 基本のチャーハン

When comes to a weeknight meal, we can always count on fried rice for a fool-proof dinner. Bursting with flavor, this classic Fried Rice recipe with ham, egg, and green onion is a delicious one-pan meal that you can whip up under 20 minutes.

2.Teriyaki Salmon 鮭の照り焼き

This easy homemadeTeriyaki Salmon is cooked in soy sauce, sake, and mirin. If you buy salmon as a whole fish, you can fillet it the Japanese way. It helps to cook faster and absorb the flavors quickly. Not a seafood fan? Try Chicken Teriyakior Beef Teriyaki.

3. Yaki Udon 焼うどん

4. Easy Wafu Pasta with Shrimp and Asparagus 海老とアスパラの和風パスタ

Pasta is always a good call for a weeknight meal. Seasoned with soy sauce and flavorful dashi broth, this Japanese-style wafu pasta with shrimp and asparagus is a delicious option than the usual tomato-based pasta.

5. Stir Fry Vegetables 野菜炒め

Loaded with plenty of vegetables and your choice of protein, this Stir fry Vegetables (Yasai Itame) makes a well-rounded weeknight meal. Not only everything comes together in less than 30 minutes, but it’s also a great way to use up any leftovers.

6. Omurice (Omelette Rice) オムライス

A really popular Japanese Yoshoku (Japanese fusion) recipe, Omurice is one of my children’s favorite meals. The rice is pan-fried with ketchup and chicken, then wrapped in a thin layer of egg. When there is leftover rice, it’s a perfect single-plate meal to prepare the next day.

7. Salmon in Foil 鮭のホイル焼き

This Salmon in Foil recipe is packed with Omega-3 Fatty Acids from the fish and healthy nutrients from the vegetables. A healthy yet flavorful dinner dish that we all need to power through a busy week. It’s incredibly easy and versatile to make too.

8. Soba Noodle Salad 蕎麦サラダ

9. Oyakodon (Chicken and Egg Bowl) 親子丼

Oyakodon is one of the easy dishes I learned at the home-making class in middle school. If you have older children at home, this would be a fun dish to teach them. It’s a classic Donbori dish, where the beaten egg and chicken pieces are simmered in sweet soy dashi sauce and served over white rice.

10. Gyudon (Beef Bowl) 牛丼

Gyudon (Beef Bowl) is comfort food for the Japanese. Simple ingredients such as onion, sliced beef, and eggs, are tossed into a hot frying pan for a quick cook. In 15 minutes, you’d get to serve some delicious rice bowl for dinner.

11.Baked Tonkatsu 揚げないとんかつ

When you feel like you’re stuck in the usual dinner rut,this Baked Tonkatsu (Japanese pork cutlet) will shake things up a little. The best part is you don’t need to deep fry the meat to achieve the crispy crust and tender, juicy texture. You can also tryCrispy Baked Chicken or Crispy Salmonin replace of pork.

12.Mapo Tofu 麻婆豆腐

Craving for some spicy food on the weeknight? This Japanese-version of Mapo Tofu is a lot milder than the Sichuan-style mapo tofu, yet it is flavorful enough that even both adults & children can enjoy it.

13.Honey Soy Sauce Chicken はちみつ醤油チキン

Marinated in sake, soy sauce, and honey, these Honey Soy Sauce Chicken can be prepped the night before. When you’re ready to cook, pop them into the oven while you prepare a simple salad or miso soupto serve along.

14. Ginger Pork (Shogayaki) 豚の生姜焼き

Although you can find Ginger Pork (Shogayaki) at most of the Japanese restaurants in the US, it is a simple dish to make at home. You want to use thinly sliced pork loin or sukiyaki meat to cook. The sweet garlic ginger sauce makes it a delicious savory dish to go with shredded cabbage.

15. Yakisoba Recipe 焼きそば

A classic Japanese stir-fried noodles – Yakisoba. You can literally add any ingredients to make your own version of Yakisoba.

MORE EASY JAPANESE RECIPES?

15 Easy Japanese Salad Recipes
26 Pantry-Led Japanese Recipes Everyone Can Make
Meal Prep DIY Bowls
Under 30-Minutes Recipes

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Namiko Chen

I'm Nami, a Japanese home cook based in San Francisco. Have fun exploring the 1000+ classic & modern Japanese recipes I share with step-by-step photos and How-To YouTube videos.

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