Want to Learn About Sake? A Comprehensive Sake Guide For Beginners

Sake bottles

It’s no secret that I adore Japan, Japanese food and Japanese culture, and that I’m always dreaming of my next trip to Japan! Sake is one element of Japan’s food and drink that is both fascinating and delicious. It’s a drink I’ve been learning about for several years and I’ve come to really appreciate it. ... Read more »

Foolproof Japanese Cheesecake

Foolproof Japanese Cheescake

Japanese cheesecake is a mildly flavoured, light style of cheesecake, and this Foolproof Cheesecake recipe from Harumi’s Japanese Kitchen is straightforward and easy to follow. Our reviewer Jack recommends serving it alongside a citrussy curd to add some oomph to the soft and gently flavour of the cheesecake. Read Jack’s full review of Harumi’s Japanese Kitchen, ... Read more »

Japanese Ginger Pork

Japanese Ginger Pork

Flicking through Harumi’s Japanese Kitchen, reviewer Jack chose this Japanese Ginger Pork (served with potato salad, also in the book) as his first savoury dish to cook. He liked the simplicity of the recipe – in which thin slices of pork loin are quickly marinated in mirin, soy sauce and ginger before being flash-cooked in a ... Read more »

Japanese Aubergine and Beef cooked in Miso

Japanese Aubergine and Beef cooked in Miso

Aubergine and beef are both popular ingredients in Japanese cooking, as is the delicious savoury condiment and cooking ingredient, miso. In this recipe from Harumi’s Japanese Kitchen aubergine and beef are simmered in a sauce flavoured with miso paste and chilli bean paste Learn all about miso, including how it’s made and used, in our in-depth ... Read more »

Harumi’s Japanese Kitchen by Harumi Kurihara

Harumi's Japanese Kitchen (cover)

Harumi Kurihara has published over 140 books and is a household name in Japan with an ever-expanding following in the West. Harumi’s Japanese Kitchen is her latest title, written specifically for non-Japanese cooks. The book, released in August 2020, promises to take readers back to the basics of Japanese cooking, a cuisine I love and ... Read more »

Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken)

Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken)

Kaarage aka Japanese Fried Chicken is one of the under-celebrated dishes of Japanese cuisine overseas – it’s a popular dish in izakayas (pubs) and small casual restaurants across Japan but it’s over-shadowed by dishes such as ramen, sushi, tempura, teriyaki and tonkatsu when it comes to Japanese food available in the UK. This classic kaarage ... Read more »

Homemade Atsuage (Fried Tofu) with Cherry Tomatoes

Homemade Atsuage (Fried Tofu) with Cherry Tomatoes

I am surprised by how many of my friends turn their nose up at tofu, insisting that it’s bland and slippery and they don’t get it at all. But tofu is incredibly versatile and has become one of my favourite ingredients over the years, especially when it’s fried. This Homemade Atsuage (Fried Tofu) with Cherry ... Read more »

Japanese Food Made Easy By Aya Nishimura

Japanese Food Made Easy By Aya Nishimura

There’s a real disconnect between how complex many Brits perceive Japanese cooking to be, and how difficult it actually is. In reality, the majority of every day Japanese food is straightforward to make, especially if you have a clear, easy-to-follow recipe. That’s where Aya Nishimura’s Japanese Food Made Easy comes in, a cookbook to help ... Read more »

No Sushi Recipe | Sticky Toffee Pudding & White Miso Butterscotch Sauce

Sticky Toffee Pudding & White Miso Butterscotch Sauce by Andrew Kojima

We recently reviewed Andrew Kojima’s cookbook No Sushi which reflects his personal journey to becoming a restaurateur, and launching Koj Cheltenham. One of his signature dishes, and extremely popular with customers, is his sticky toffee pudding with white miso butterscotch sauce. We are delighted to share the recipe with you for this delicious dessert. This ... Read more »

No Sushi Recipe | Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki from Andrew Kojima's No Sushi cookbook

We recently reviewed Andrew Kojima’s cookbook No Sushi – part cookbook, part autobiography. One of the recipes we are keen to make is the okonomiyaki. This popular pancake-like Japanese dish is a filling meal of cabbage and other ingredients mixed into in a wheat-flour batter, cooked on a flat pan or hot plate, and topped ... Read more »