3 Healthy Japanese Traditional Recipes

As everyone knows, I possess very deep appreciation of the Japanese culture… well, I never said it out loud, but since animes are such a big part of my life, it’s a reason to love Japan a LOT. I haven’t had the pleasure to visit this beautiful country (will do it very soon though), but I can always try to cook some of their traditional healthy meals.

And, since everyone now are thinking about sushi, no. I won’t bore you with the most famous dish, I’m sure everyone reading here has made it at least 100 times before. Here are some recipes you might have not heard of and are just as healthy as most of the Japanese cuisine.

#1. Soumen Miso Soup

Ingredients

• 
  1 bundle of soumen noodles (took me a while to find those, but I’m persistent)


• 
  Soft tofu cut into cubes (as much as you’d need for 4 small bowls)


• 
  2 table spoons of miso


• 
  3 cups of dashi soup

I’m not that much into precise amounts of ingredients, because I always cook according to my own eyes and hat looks and tastes pleasing. So, the rest of the recipes will be the same.

Now, boil the soumen in one container and the dashi and miso soup in two different ones.

Mix them all together and add the tofu. It takes no more than 10 minutes.

I like to sprinkle tiny bits of green onions on top when serving.

#2. Katsudon

Ingredients

• 
  a few pork chops (no bones)


• 
  2 bowls of steamed rice


• 
  Half an onion


• 
  3 eggs


• 
  a cup of breadcrumbs


• 
  mirin, soy sauce, sake, sugar (depends on your taste how much)


• 
  A small cup of flour


• 
  2 table spoons of hon dashi


• 
  You can also add seaweed if you like it (I don’t – it doesn’t mix well with my stomach)

Smash the pork chops to make them more tender. Season them with salt from all sides, though I usually prefer to use soy sauce. Sprinkle with flower, then dip in a scrambled egg and then in the breadcrumbs.

Fry the pork chops, until they obtain a golden colour. Then, take it out and slice in small pieces.

Boil some water and add the hon-dashi and all the spices.

Add the cutlets and boil for about a minute.

Drizzle an egg over everything and wait about half a minute.

Pour everything over the steamed rice.

#3. Okonomiyaki

Ingredients

• 
  2 cups of okonomiyaki powder


• 
  1 egg


• 
  Some sliced pork (or beef, or shrimp)


• 
  Some sliced cabbage


• 
  Some chopped green onion


• 
  Half a cup of bonito


• 
  A few table spoons of okonomiyaki sauce


• 
  2 table spoons of Japanese mayonnaise

This is my all time favorite Japanese dish, even sushi is second to this.

Mix the okonomiyaki powder with water and add the egg, cabbage and onion.

Fry the mixture in a large pan (I use coconut oil) and make sure all gets flat like a pancake.

Slice the pork (beef, shrimp), fry it in another pan and then put it all on top of the “pancake”.

Flip it upside down and fry for a few minutes

Pour on top the okonomiyaki sauce, the mayo and sprinkle bonito.

3 Healthy Japanese Traditional Recipes