Japanese Foods You Didn’t Know About!
Lucky for us, there is so much more to Japanese food than just sushi and ramen
Japanese food is delicious, but did you know there are a lot of different dishes that don't get as much love? If you want to explore the wide world of Japanese cuisine, then this is for you.
You may be surprised at what your taste buds find when looking beyond sushi and ramen noodles. We'll take a look at some lesser-known and under-appreciated dishes from Japan. What are you waiting for? Get ready to get hungry!
Matsutake
Japan has a rich history of cultivating mushrooms, going back to the 1800s. They have a wide variety of mushrooms that are used in different ways depending on what they're made for and where they grow.
One type of Japanese mushroom is known as matsutake (pine mushroom). These mushrooms grow wild all over Japan near pine trees but are most sought after in autumn when their flavour and aroma is at their peak.
The best way to enjoy these delicious mushrooms is by boiling them in soy sauce with ginger, garlic cloves, sugar and rice vinegar before simmering until tender. Matsutake can be eaten raw or cooked; however, it's always better to cook them first because heating the bacteria kills off any toxins found within the mushroom which may cause food poisoning.
Tantanmen
Tantanmen is a hot and spicy Chinese inspired noodle soup that's popular with food lovers. The noodles are made from wheat flour, salt, water and lye.
They're usually topped with ground pork, scallions, vegetables such as bok choy and spinach, boiled eggs as well as chilli oil. With all these ingredients there are endless combinations to try out!
Traditionally, the dish is served in a bowl of oil or broth alongside cucumber slices to add coolness to the dish. This hearty and spicy soup is perfect for the cold winter months.
Yaki Udon Noodles
It has been said that yaki udon is one of the most popular dishes in Japan and it can be found at many restaurants. So what exactly is yaki udon? Yaki means "to grill" or "to fry," so yaki udon refers to noodles that are fried up with various meats and vegetables on top.
These flavorful noodles come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, thicknesses, and flavours; some come served cold while others are served hot. The toppings vary from region to region but typically include things like green onions, cabbage leaves, eggs (sometimes raw).