From healthy classics like sushi and miso soup to cozy dumplings and katsu curry, this collection of Japanese recipes delivers fresh new flavors straight to your kitchen.
If you’re looking for healthier eating options, you need to explore Japanese cuisine ~ it’s built on fresh, seasonal ingredients like fish, vegetables, and rice, with minimal processed foods. It tends to be lower in carbs and calories, but high in flavor. My collection of Japanese recipes is a mix of authentic dishes along with my own adaptations of my favorite Japanese food traditions.
Whether you’re dipping your toe into this elegant cuisine as part of a Lunar New Year celebration, looking to broaden your culinary horizons, or want to branch out to healthier eating, Japanese cuisine has a lot to offer.
- Portion control: Japanese meals emphasize small, balanced servings.
- Minimalism: Japanese cuisine emphasizes simplicity, letting the natural flavors of fresh, seasonal ingredients shine without heavy spices or sauces.
- Plant-based and pescatarian-friendly: so many dishes star veggies, tofu, seaweed, and fish.
- Focus on fresh and unprocessed ingredients: Aligns with trends toward clean eating and whole foods.
- Visual appeal: Japanese food is beautifully plated which encourages mindful eating.
- Umami, the fifth taste: found in ingredients like soy sauce, miso, kombu, and bonito flakes.
the Japanese recipes to know
- Gyoza dumplings
- Chicken Katsu Curry Bowl
- Japanese Cucumber Salad (Sunomono)
- Japanese Carrot Ginger Dressing
- Mini Crab Cakes with Ginger and Scallion
- Japanese ochazuke with fried rice cakes and salmon
- Miso Glazed Salmon
- Miso Soup Recipe
- How to Make Ramen Eggs
- Teriyaki Pork Ramen
- Salmon Sushi Bowls
- Garden Veggie Sushi
- Ramen Salad
- Spring Vegetable Salad with Miso Dressing
- Edamame Salad
- Blistered Shishito Peppers
Gyoza dumplings
Gyoza are Japanese dumplings that are crispy and chewy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with umami flavor. They’re usually filled with a mix of ground pork, cabbage, garlic, and ginger, folded into a half-moon shape, and pan-fried until golden and crispy. This easier than it looks Japanese recipe is a lot of fun to make ~ perfect as a snack, appetizer, or light dinner.
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Gyoza wrappers are thin round sheets of dough made from wheat flour, water, and a little salt. They’re sold fresh, so look for them in the refrigerated section of large supermarkets ~ near the fresh miso and tofu.
- Folding gyoza is not difficult, it just takes a little practice. You can also buy easy dumpling molds to make the process quicker.
Chicken Katsu Curry Bowl
A katsu curry bowl is ultimate comfort food—crispy, breaded pork or chicken cutlet (katsu) served over rice and smothered in a rich, mildly spiced curry sauce. The combination of crunchy katsu, fluffy rice, and savory-sweet curry creates a satisfying, hearty dish that’s both cozy and packed with flavor.
ingredient sourcing
- Japanese curry powder ~ look for it in Asian markets or purchase online.
- Short grain rice labeled as sushi rice or Calrose rice in most supermarkets.
Japanese Cucumber Salad (Sunomono)
Japanese cucumber salad, or sunomono, is a light, refreshing side dish made with thinly sliced cucumbers tossed in a tangy-sweet dressing of rice vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce. This simple and oh so healthy Japanese recipe is a favorite on my site, you guys love it!
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Chili oil: this is a red oil with or without inclusions like chile flakes in it. At their core, most chile oils are similar in concept, but their flavors, heat levels, and additional ingredients vary. Go with what you can find, but you can always find it online.
Japanese Carrot Ginger Dressing
Japanese carrot ginger salad dressing is a vibrant, tangy dressing made with pureed carrots, fresh ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. This is the dressing that makes those uber simple iceberg lettuce salads you get in Japanese restaurants so utterly irresistible! If you’re looking to dip your toe into this cuisine, this is an easy Japanese recipe to start with.
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Toasted sesame oil: it has an incredible aromatic flavor and you will find it in most grocery stores in the International or Asian section. Remember to look for toasted sesame oil, it will be a rich golden color, usually sold in smaller sized bottles.
Mini Crab Cakes with Ginger and Scallion
Japanese-inspired flavors like ginger, scallions, sesame oil, and panko breadcrumbs work beautifully in crab cakes, creating a fusion-style dish. I’ve paired them with a couple of zesty dipping sauces. These are great for entertaining, but I love them as a light dinner.
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Panko breadcrumbs are super crisp Japanese bread crumbs that can usually be found with the regular breadcrumbs in your supermarket. Otherwise check the Asian aisle.
Japanese ochazuke with fried rice cakes and salmon
Ochazuke is a unique Japanese recipe that’s so comforting ~ a simple, cozy dish made by pouring hot tea, dashi, or broth over rice and topping it with salmon and veggies. It’s quick, light, and endlessly customizable, perfect for using up leftovers or as a low-key, satisfying meal.
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Yellow miso paste: find it in the refrigerated section of your store, with the tofu.
- Furikake: it’s a dried spice mix of dried seaweed, sesame seeds, and other goodies like bonito flakes, dried egg, or even wasabi. Look for it in the Asian section of larger supermarkets.
- Pickled ginger: small jars will be in the Asian section of your supermarket. If your store has a sushi section they will sometimes stock it there. It’s also easy to make yourself!
Miso Glazed Salmon
Miso-glazed salmon isn’t a traditional Japanese recipe, but it’s definitely inspired by Japanese flavors. The combo of miso, sake, mirin, and soy sauce work perfectly with salmon. While you’re more likely to find this dish on a fusion menu than in a traditional Japanese home, it still captures the essence of classic Japanese ingredients in a modern, delicious way.
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Mirin: Japanese cooking rice wine, found in the Asian condiments section of your grocery store.
- Tamari soy sauce: a soy sauce made from soybeans that is naturally gluten free with a richer, less salty flavor. It’s my favorite. Commonly available in the Asian condiments section.
Miso Soup Recipe
Miso soup is more than just a delicious bowl of soup ~ it’s a way to showcase the magic of miso, a living, fermented ingredient that’s full of probiotics and bold umami flavor. It’s quick to make, healthy, and comforting ~ and the perfect example of the simplicity of Japanese cooking.
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Dashi: a broth made with dried seaweed and fish flakes. You’ll find dashi in broth form, or as a powdered mix. Also look for the ingredients at Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and larger supermarkets to make your own.
How to Make Ramen Eggs
Ramen eggs, or ajitama, are soft-boiled eggs that are marinated in a flavorful mix of soy sauce, mirin, and a touch of sugar. The yolks stay rich and jammy, while the whites soak up all that savory, umami goodness. They’re the perfect topping for ramen, but they’re just as good as a snack or on rice bowls. Easy to make and next-level delicious!
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Sake: a traditional Japanese rice wine you’ll find in any liquor store or supermarket liquor section. Avoid “cooking sake” if possible, and go for an inexpensive drinking sake for best results.
Teriyaki Pork Ramen
Teriyaki pork ramen bowls with tender pork in a sweet savory teriyaki glaze, fresh veggies and oodles of noodles is comfort food, Japanese style!
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Ramen broth: a rich stock made by simmering animal bones (like beef, chicken, or fish) along with water, vegetables, and sometimes herbs or spices, for an extended period—often 12–24 hours. I buy readymade broth, it’s in the soup section.
- Ramen noodles: use the straight or curly ones. I use the convenient little packs we all loved in college, (just chuck the salty seasoning packets, you won’t need them!)
Salmon Sushi Bowls
Sushi for dinner is even more appealing when it’s served up in a bowl with jade sushi rice, succulent salmon, crisp veggies and, of course, spicy mayo. Sushi bowls are a modern twist on a classic Japanese recipe, bringing all the fresh vibrant flavors of sushi into an easy-to-assemble, customizable dish.
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Dried seaweed snack wafers: these make the perfect topping ~ they’ll be in the Asian section of the supermarket.
Garden Veggie Sushi
While traditional sushi culture focuses on seafood, vegan sushi has exploded in popularity and makes this iconic Japanese recipe so much more accessible ~ no need to find sushi grade raw fish.
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Nori: dried seaweed sheets used to roll the sushi ~ stores like Whole Foods, Kroger, Safeway, Walmart, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s usually stock nori in their international or Asian food aisles.
Ramen Salad
Ramen salad is decidedly not authentic Japanese, but I couldn’t help including it because it uses a classic Japanese ingredient in such a creative way!
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Water chestnuts: one of my favorite ingredients, I love the gentle crunch! They’re actually an aquatic vegetable, not a nut at all. Look for the small cans in your mainstream grocery store, and stock up!
Spring Vegetable Salad with Miso Dressing
This Spring Vegetable Salad with Miso Dressing clearly illustrates why the Japanese diet is so healthy. The seasonal vegetables are barely cooked, just blanched for a minute in boiling water to take the edge off the crunch and bring out the color. The dressing has no oil whatsoever, just lots of umami flavor. This dish fills your stomach while barely making a dent in your daily calorie count.
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Shichimi togarashi: Japanese seven-spice blend including chili flakes, orange peel, sesame seeds, nori (seaweed flakes), sansho (Japanese pepper), ginger, and poppy or hemp seeds. If you can’t find in your regular spice aisle, try Amazon.
Edamame Salad
One of my favorite salads, it’s hearty and light at the same time. While not a traditional Japanese recipe, (edamame beans in Japan are usually served simply steamed or boiled in their shells in salted water) edamame salad is a fun way to enjoy these buttery beans.
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Edamame beans: look for bags of shelled beans in the freezer aisle. Make sure you get beans that are not in their pods.
Blistered Shishito Peppers
Shishito peppers are small, thin, and wrinkled, with a bright green color that turns red as they ripen. Their flavor is mild and slightly sweet, with an occasional pepper (about 1 in 10) offering a surprising spicy kick. I was hooked the first time I tried these amazing peppers.
Japanese ingredient sourcing
- Shishito peppers: these Japanese peppers are now grown internationally, and you’ll most likely find them during the growing season in your area. Vegetable markets and farmers markets are great resources.
For someone on a low sodium diet these recipes sound like they contain a lot of salt??
Yes, one of the very few health drawbacks of Japanese food is higher sodium ~ that comes from the soy and miso mostly. You can opt for lower sodium products, and also dilute or reduce the sauces in some recipes.
Also don’t rely on prepared commercial sauces etc, they will have higher sodium than ones you can make at home. Hope this helps!