Today we are sharing the recipes of some popular Japanese side dishes. Not only are they fast and easy, they are delicious and healthy too. Each one only requires a few steps and can be done in less than 10 minutes, so they are suitable for beginners. The ingredients involved are also simple and easily available at supermarkets. Try these 5 simple recipes today!
1. Hiyayakko (Chilled Tofu)
This appetizer is great for hot weather like what we have here in Singapore. The soft, smooth texture of the tofu accompanied with a savoury dressing makes it a light and appetizing dish. This dish takes less than 5 mins to prepare – you are not even required to cook! Use our easy recipe to experience the cold, tender tofu melting in your mouth with Japanese flavours!
What you need for 2 servings:
– half a packet of silken tofu
– 2 tsp grated ginger
– 2 tbsp dashi broth (or dissolve a pinch of dashi powder in 2 tbsp warm water)
– 2 tbsp soy sauce
– 2 tbsp chopping scallions
– a small handful of bonito flakes
Instructions:
1. Remove any excess water from the chilled tofu and slice it equally into 2 pieces. Place it on the serving plate/s.
2. Drizzle the dashi broth and soy sauce over the tofu.
3. Top the tofu with grated ginger, scallions and bonito flakes and serve.
2. Tamagoyaki
This egg dish is really popular and you see it in all Japanese menus. Japanese housewives often make it at home for their families and also for their children’s bentos as well. There are also fanciful versions where special ingredients such as mentaiko (cod roe) or unagi are wrapped in the egg, but the simple one is just as tasty. The sweet and savoury flavours can be really addictive!
What you need for 2 servings:
– 3 eggs
Seasonings
– 3 tbsp of dashi stock (make your own with a pinch of dashi powder with 3 tbsp of water
– 1 tbsp sugar
– 1 tsp soy sauce
– a pinch a salt
Instructions:
1. Beat the eggs in a bowl.
2. Add the seasonings to the eggs and mix well.
3. Heat a tamagoyaki pan/a rectangular pan (you can also use a small frying pan) on medium low heat. Add some oil and spreading it evenly on the surface of the pan using a small piece of kitchen towel and chopsticks.
4. Pour a thin layer of egg mixture into the pan and rotate your pan slightly to distribute the mixture evenly. Once it is almost cooked, roll the egg carefully from one end to the other. Then pour another layer of egg mixture. (You may want to coat the surface with oil again before adding more egg mixture) Repeat until all egg mixture is used up.
5. Set aside to cool for a while before placing it on a chopping board. Cut it into equal serving sizes and serve.
3. Edamame
This snack is incredibly healthy with lots of nutrients for your body. It is also known to be able to break down alcohol so it makes a perfect snack for your drinking parties, which is one reason why you can always find edamame on Izakaya menus.
What you need for 2 servings:
– Edamame
– Salt
– Water
Instructions:
1. Rub edamame with a generous amount of salt to remove the fuzz on its surface.
2. Rinse and add a little bit of salt again to coat, this time for seasoning.
3. Transfer edamame to a frying pan. Add enough water to cover the edamame. Cover the pan with a lid and bring it to boil on high heat.
4. Once the water starts to boil, turn the heat to low and cook for 5 more minutes. Set aside to let it cool before serving.
4. Tomato Ohitashi
This is another refreshing and light appetizer that the Japanese love. The cherry tomatoes are marinated in a dashi-based sauce to give it an umami flavour. It takes less than 5 minutes to make but prepare it in advance to give the tomatoes more time to absorb the marinade. Pop a whole cherry tomato into your mouth to enjoy the burst of the juices and flavours.
What you need for 2 servings:
-10 cherry tomatoes
Marinade
– 1 cup of dashi stock
– 2 tbsp soy sauce
– 1 tbsp sugar
– a pinch of salt
Instructions:
1. Wash your cherry tomatoes. Boil a pot of water and blanch the cherry tomatoes for about 10 seconds.
2. Drain well and transfer the cherry tomatoes to a bowl of ice water to cool.
3. Mix the ingredients for the marinade together. Stir till sugar is dissolved.
4. Once the cherry tomatoes are cool enough to handle, peel of the tomato skin gently.
5. Put the cherry tomatoes and marinade in a container. Place it in the refrigerator for at least a few hours before serving. You can also store it for up to 3 days.
5. Spicy Bean Sprouts
This one is a popular side dish that is often used as a topping for your ramen, so you can find it being served at ramen chains such as Ippudo and Ramen Nagi. It is slightly spicy and retains the crunchy texture of bean sprouts. This recipe is super easy and takes just 5 minutes! You can also make a big batch at a time and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days since it tastes just as good when chilled.
What you need for 2 servings:
-300g of bean sprouts
Seasonings
– 2 tbsp of Ra-yu (spicy sesame oil)
– 2 tsp of soy sauce
– salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Boil water and blanch the bean sprouts for 1-2 minutes.
2. Mix the ingredients for the seasonings in a bowl. You can adjust the level of spiciness to your liking by adding some Japanese chilli pepper flakes ( Shichimi Togarashi)
3. Add the bean sprouts to the bowl and toss to mix evenly.
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