Exploring World Cuisine

Sushi: Sushi is one of the most iconic Japanese dishes, featuring vinegared rice combined with a variety of ingredients, such as raw or cooked fish, seafood, and vegetables. Common types of sushi include nigiri, where a slice of raw fish is placed on top of rice, and maki, which are rice and other ingredients rolled in a sheet of seaweed (nori). Ramen: Ramen is a popular Japanese noodle soup dish with Chinese origins. It consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat or fish-based broth, typically flavored with soy sauce or miso. Ramen is often topped with ingredients such as sliced pork (chashu), dried seaweed (nori), green onions, and a soft-boiled egg. Tempura: Tempura is a Japanese dish made by deep-frying seafood or vegetables coated in a light, airy batter. Common ingredients include shrimp, fish, mushrooms, eggplant, and sweet potatoes. Tempura is typically served with a dipping sauce made from soy sauce, mirin, and dashi broth. Okonomiyaki: Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese pancake made from a batter of flour, grated yam, water, and eggs, mixed with a variety of ingredients such as cabbage, green onions, and seafood or meat. The dish is cooked on a griddle and often topped with a sweet and savory sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and seaweed flakes. Yakitori: Yakitori refers to skewered, grilled chicken pieces seasoned with a sauce made from soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar. The chicken is typically marinated in the sauce before being grilled, and the skewers may include different parts of the chicken such as thigh, breast, wings, and even cartilage or organs. Yakitori is often enjoyed as a casual food at izakayas, Japanese-style pubs.