Friends living in Europe often ask me about Japanese food and Japanese culinary culture, which has become a citizen's food with sushi and ramen. Embarking on a culinary journey to recreate the delicate and flavoursome cuisine of Japan while in a European kitchen is the start of an exciting adventure.
We get particularly many practical questions like, "Where do you get your authentic Japanese ingredients?" In fact, for our family, both in the UK and in the Netherlands, "I feel like making that dish, but where on earth do I go to get it?" I'm always on the lookout for it, though!
Of course, even in Europe you can get foodstuffs in Asian supermarkets and Japanese grocery shops. But one day I realised that I had to be inventive and resourceful. But then I realised that with ingenuity and resourcefulness, it was possible to get around this difficulty.
For Europeans interested in Japan, here are some tips on substitutions and cooking tips for Japanese food! Even if you are thousands of kilometres away, try your hand at making your own Japanese food in Europe as your taste buds take you on a journey through Japan! Don't think too hard, it's simple!
Understand the basics
Japanese cuisine is known as 'washoku', and if you try to explain it properly, it is characterised by fresh, seasonal ingredients, minimal cooking methods and dishes that appeal to all five senses. (I really can't be bothered with all those details in my day-to-day life while raising children, though. haha!)
The underlying philosophy of Japanese cuisine is balance and harmony. Knowing this philosophy before tackling substitutes and tricks could be the key to faithfully recreating Japanese cuisine!
Rice: the heartbeat of Japanese cuisine
In Japan, rice is more than just a side dish - it is the soul of the meal! Ever heard of 'onigiri'? It is soul food for the Japanese! (And easy for little kids to eat without spilling!)
I have tried several different varieties of Japanese rice grown in Europe in the UK and finally settled on 'Yumenishiki' rice. It's delicious! I found it in the Netherlands and I buy a bag of 10 kg every two months or so. (My daughters are eating more and more, so it's decreasing at a faster pace!)
But actually, you can substitute European rice such as Italian arborio or Spanish short-grain rice to get closer to the sticky texture and subtle sweetness of Japanese rice. Remember to aim for a similar texture and flavour that complements other dishes.
Dashi: the backbone of umami
Dashi is an extract of umami from ingredients such as kombu (kelp) and dried bonito flakes, and is an essential part of Japanese cooking. But sometimes these ingredients are hard to find in Europe. So, you can recreate that complex umami flavour by using dried seaweed such as wakame or mushrooms such as shiitake mushrooms as a substitute for dashi. (Shiitake mushrooms have a different flavour to mushrooms.)
Soy sauce and miso: fermented flavours
Soy sauce is now easily available in Europe! Japanese soy sauce has a unique flavour that differs from that of its Chinese and South-East Asian counterparts. For a closer match, opt for light or low-salt soy sauce, which is also available in European shops. As a Japanese person and a native of Chiba Prefecture, one of Japan's prefectures, a bottle of locally produced KIKKOMAN soy sauce is a 'one for the family' essential! I am pretty sure that you have seen this bottle at least once.
Miso is made from fermented soya beans. You can find it in most large supermarkets in both the UK and the Netherlands, so give it a try if you can find it too! I also recommend mixing it with mayonnaise and eating it as a dip for fresh vegetables and crackers!
Cooking techniques and tips.
1. **Simplicity**: Japanese cooking emphasises the natural flavour of the ingredients. It is slightly different from overly complex dishes with lots of spices and sauces. 2.
2.**Precision in preparation**: careful attention to the way ingredients are cut will affect the finished taste and presentation of a dish. Practice only. (You can't say that about every meal when the kids are young, though! LOL)
3. **Use umami**: add depth to your dishes by using 'umami' rich ingredients such as tomatoes, parmesan cheese, mushrooms and other substitutes available in Europe.
4. **Invest in a good rice cooker**: with a rice cooker, you can always have perfectly cooked rice, an essential part of Japanese cuisine. Of course, you can cook it in a pot too!
5.**Taste test**: don't be afraid to tweak recipes based on the ingredients you have on hand. It's impossible to get everything sold in Japan!
Dive into the world of Japanese food.
Now that you've learned about substitutions and tips, here's a quick summary of how to incorporate Japanese cuisine into your daily life. Start with simple things like onigiri (rice balls), miso soup and stir-fries. "Temakizushi" is also a great way to get everyone together for a party! Enjoy!!