Japanese food is becoming increasingly popular, once a niche item in American cuisine. The combination of lightness and harmony in a typical Japanese dish appeals greatly to Americans, who have long been accustomed to heavy, deep-fried food. Many people remain reluctant about exploring this aspect of ethnic cuisine, however, for fear that they'll find something on their plate which appears as though it came from the Iron Chef. This is far too common! The intent of this article is to introduce readers to a variety of different Japanese dishes, that they might go out and try something new without fear of what they'll be eating.
Domburi is a dish that consists of a bowl with rice and some type of topping. A wide range of toppings is popular in Japan. Many have successfully crossed the Pacific to reach American restaurants. Oyakodon is a popular example of this dish, which can be topped with chicken or egg. Gyudon is another type, which is more Japanese than fast food. It's beefy in taste and very popular in Japan. Those of you who are especially outgoing tasters might like to sample unadon, a type of domburi wherein strips of grilled eel coated in a thick soya sauce are used to top the rice bowl.
Ramen: This soup is a staple of American college students' diets for many years. Wildly popular around the world, ramen is to the Japanese what a burger and fries are to your average United States native. Ramen can be made with many different bases, but its most distinctive feature is its long, thin noodles. To complement these noodles, you can add dumplings or pork, miso (fermented bean paste), and soya sago. 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: Many people mistake this dish for sushi when they first learn about 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 several Omakase types of sushi, but the most common is tuna. Diners should be lend particular attention to the scent when partaking of this dish. It is essential that the fish used to make sashimi be 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 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 include sushi rice, various seafood types, and are rolled in sheets made of dried seaweed. Norimaki often includes vegetables, as well.
Tempura has become a very popular dish in Japan as well as around the world. Tempura is a snack food made from different kinds of seafood and/or veggies that are fried in a special coating. It's a delicious treat that is crispy without being heavy like deep-fried foods in America. It is impossible to list all the ingredients used in tempura. They also vary widely from one restaurant to another.
The five dishes listed above should provide the novice gourmand with a particularly tasty introduction to the world of Japanese cuisine. Enjoy!