25 Essential Japanese Ingredients You Can Buy Online
by Teni Wada | LIFESTYLE
Japanese cuisine, encompases everything from globally recognized dishes like sushi and soba noodles to whimsically cute bento boxes, green tea and everything in between. If you’re eager to try making home-cooked Japanese food, you might not know where to start, but I suggest starting with dishes that are already familiar to you. In my case, I’m fortunate to have learned much about home-style Japanese meals simply by recreating my mother-in-law's meals in my tiny Tokyo kitchen. I’m always eager to expand my cooking repertoire so I like to keep my kitchen stocked with the basics so I can try new recipes.
Here we’ve rounded up a list of 25 essential Japanese ingredients you can find on Amazon so you can stock up on all that’s necessary to whip up a few traditional meals (and desserts) of your own.
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The Basics
1. Nishiki Rice
You’ll find plenty of noodle dishes in Japanese cuisine, but rice is the undisputed staple. You’ll need to start with rice that delivers flavor with a slightly sticky (but never mushy) texture. Nishiki is a brand of GMO-free, medium-grain musenmai (“no-wash”) rice that cuts down on prep time so you can focus on umami-rich dishes that compliment a bowl of freshly made rice.
Nishiki Rice – Available at Amazon
2. Kishbori Soy Sauce
With all the varieties of soy sauce on the market, you might find it difficult to find a brand that suits your tastes. Kishibori Shoyu is an artisanal soy sauce made from high quality soybeans, wheat, and sun-dried sea salt for an all natural, preservative-free taste that is characteristic of Japanese dishes.
Soy Sauce – Available at Amazon
3. Hikari Miso Paste
Miso soup is a simple and healthy soup that you can customize to your tastes with a variety of root vegetables, tofu, seaweed, leafy greens, mushrooms, clams, and more! I always go for additive-free, organic white miso paste like Japan’s best-selling brand Hikari Miso, which is made from soybeans, koji (malted rice), and salt.
Miso Paste – Available at Amazon
4. Instant Dashi
Preparing dashi from scratch by blending dried kombu, bonito fish flakes, and/or sardines will result in a savory clear broth that forms the backbone for miso soup and noodle dishes. But, when you’re pressed for time there’s always instant dashi, like this powdered bonito fish soup stock from Ajinomoto. Hondashi is the flavor base for many Japanese dishes, so having a box on hand certainly will come in handy.
Instant Dashi – Available at Amazon
5. Mirin
Mirin is a type of sweet rice wine akin to sake, but with a lower alcohol content, that adds viscosity and gloss to various sauces. Finding authentic, or hon mirin, outside of Japan can be a hassle, because most brands of mirin are lower in alcohol content and rely on sweeteners. Eden mirin, however, is made in Japan and uses only water, organic rice, koji, and sea salt for a sweet, umami-rich flavor that doesn't scrimp on quality.
Dry Goods
6. Nori
At first glance, there’s nothing really remarkable about nori, shredded and sun dried strips of seaweed cut into thin, unassuming dark green squares. However, nori is a versatile ingredient that gives sushi and rice balls their unique shape and works well as a topping for ramen, too. Plus, nori is low in calories and when roasted, it makes a great snack for kids as well as a substitute for chips!
7. Udon Noodles
Did you know that kitsune (foxes) and tanuki (racoon dogs) go beyond the world of Japanese folklore? These magical beings are also the names of two kinds of udon toppings: Kitsune refers to fried bean curd called abura-age, while tanuki refers to crumbs of fried batter. This family sized twin pack of dried udon is made from flour grown in one of Japan's principal wheat-growing areas. You’re bound to have fun experimenting with which udon style suits you best!
Udon Noodles – Available at Amazon
8. Okonomiyaki Flour
Okonomiyaki are savory pancakes made to your stomach’s desire, and they also offer a unique look into the culinary differences between two of Japan’s major regions. This package of Osaka-style okonomiyaki channels the deep taste of Kansai region dashi which is made from kelp and bonito. Top with a generous coating of okonomiyaki sauce, drizzle mayonnaise, and add a generous helping of aonori seaweed flakes, for an authentic taste.
Okonomiyaki Flour – Available at Amazon
9. Potato Starch
Wow your family or dinner party attendees with a delicious plate of karaage, Japan’s signature boneless fried chicken bites, that are seasoned with soy sauce, ginger and garlic. The key to re-creating the unmistakable crunch lies in its batter made from katakuriko, root starch made from potatoes. Katakuriko does not have a disntact taste nor does it leave an aftertaste, so you can also use it as a cornstarch substitute when cooking and baking.
Potato Starch – Available at Amazon
10. Furikake
In need of a list-minute recipe as dinner time draws near? Enter furikake, a dried condiment that you sprinkle over rice or mix into rice balls for a tasty and fun way to expand your palate. This furikake sampler includes 8 varieties of seasonings to sprinkle over your rice. Each is a flavorful blend of dried seaweed, sesame seeds, wasabi, eggs, fish, and shrimp. Complement your furikake rice with a bowl of miso soup and Japanese-style pickles for a fast, yet filling meal.
Soups & Curry
11. Hayashi Rice Roux
One of the most popular “western” style foods in Japan, hayashi rice is a staple in diners and cafeterias. Preparing its thick, tomato and red wine demi-glace sauce is time-consuming, but this hayashi rice sauce mix from S&B Foods is the real deal! Simply add slices of meat, onions and mushrooms and serve with a side of rice. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, upgrade your hayashi rice to a plate of omuhayashi, a plate consisting of hayashi sauce and an omelette stuffed with fried rice.
Hayashi Rice Roux – Available at Amazon
12. Vermont Curry Roux (Mild)
There’s nothing quite like Japanese curry. Commonly referred to as “curry rice,” or simply curry, Japanese curry is fusion cuisine with Indian roots introduced via the British in late 19th century Japan. Curry can be made with a variety of vegetables and meats and pairs with rice, udon, fried pork cutlets and even more. Vermont Curry is one of Japan’s most popular brands of curry roux and this mild version uses apples and honey for a sweet taste that can be enjoyed by children and those sensitive to spices.
Vermont Curry Roux – Available at Amazon
13. Tsuyu
This bottle of Kikkoman Hon Tsuyu is a concentrated blend of bonito flakes and kelp that can be diluted with water to instantly prepare a soup base for udon and soba. This is my personal prefered brand of tsuyu that I use to make udon when I’m pressed for time and short of ideas for a hearty and satisfying lunch. Kikkoman Hon Tsuyu can also be used for preparing stewed dishes and the winter hotpot dish known as nabe.
14. Kombu
Kombu, or dried kelp, is the way to go when preparing a vegetarian or vegan dashi that adds just the right amount of unami to your Japanese home cooked meals. This Hidaka kombu is farmed in the waters of Japan's northernmost island and is rich in minerals and fiber. After you’ve prepared your dashi, don’t throw away the kombu! You can use it to make kombu tsukudani, a side dish known as simmered kombu.
15. Bonito Flakes
You never forget your first encounter with the dancing fish flakes known as katsuobushi, or dried bonito flakes. In my case, I was so mesmerized by its swaying movements that I nearly forgot all about my okonomiyaki! Not only are bonito flakes a flavorful topping, they are a key ingredient in Japanese soup stocks. Combine with another ingredient such as dried kelp or dried sardines to make awase, or blended, dashi.
Condiments & Sauces
16. Okonomi Sauce
Whether you prefer Kansai or Kanto okonomiyaki, they both pair well with this flavorful sauce from Otafaku. Its soy sauce base is a blend of fruits and vegetables that is slightly reminiscent of Worcestershire sauce, but with a thicker consistency and sweeter taste. Like Worcestershire sauce, okonomi sauce can be used in stir-fry, as a marinade, or as a condiment to add a smoky, sweet flavor to any dish.
Okonomi Sauce – Available at Amazon
17. Yuzu Ponzu
Yuzupon is a tart, soy sauce based vinaigrette with a citrus kick that comes from the fragrant yuzu fruit native to Asia. Some of my favorite ways to use yuzupon is as a dipping sauce for sushi and gyoza, or potstickers filled with minced vegetables and meats. Yuzupon also pairs very well with leafy green vegetables. Take some boiled spinach, drained and cut, and top with yuzupon sauce and sesame seeds for a healthy and tasty side dish that takes just minutes to prepare.
Yuzu Ponzu – Available at Amazon
18. Shichimi 7 Spice Seasoning Blend
If you’ve ever felt that your meal could use just a hint of spice, shichimi is sure to become your favorite topping. Shichimi blends red chili pepper, poppy seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, and Japanese pepper with very subtle hints of orange peel, ginger, and seaweed. Use shichimi to flavor meats, or to kick up the spice level in your noodles or curry.
Shichimi 7 Spice Seasoning – Available at Amazon
19. Set of 5 Grated Toppings
This assortment of 5 tubed seasonings from S&B Foods is the perfect way to experiment with a more “traditional” Japanese palette. There are 3 oroshi, or grated condiments, wasabi, ginger, and garlic, which are a fuss-free way to give your dishes a lively kick without the mess of dealing with a grater. But, if you like to live life on the wild side, you’ll definitely enjoy the burst of flavor packed in the citron pepper and citron wasabi pastes!
Grated Toppings Set – Available at Amazon
20. Bull-Dog Sauce
As the 20th century brought western foods to Japan, Japanese food manufacturers were presented with the task of creating a condiment that complemented these new dishes without overpowering the Japanese palette. Enter Bull-Dog Vegetable & Fruit Tonkatsu Sauce, styled after Worcestershire sauce and branded with an English bulldog as a nod to the sauce’s origins. More than 100 years later, it’s practically a given that you pair katsu, fried breaded cutlets, and korokke, croquettes, with Bull-Dog Vegetable & Fruit Tonkatsu Sauce!
Confectionary Making
21. Kinako Soy Bean Flour
Kinako, roasted soybean flour is aromatic with a nutty taste. Often paired in Japanese confectionery with rice cakes, matcha, or kuromitsu brown sugar syrup, kinako has a creamy texture and subtle sweetness that adds nuanced harmony to any dessert. My favorite way to use kinako powder is to layer kuromitsu syrup over vanilla or matcha ice cream and cover with a very generous coating of kinako. Yum!
Kinako Powder – Available at Amazon
22. Ogura An Red Bean Paste
Ogura toast, a dish originating in Nagoya, is a fascinating look at the West-meets-East fusion cuisine that popped up across Japan’s major port cities during the later years of the revolutionary Meiji period (1868-1912). A thick slice of toasted bread is topped with sweetened bean paste and a slice of butter, and paired with a boiled egg for a breakfast plate like no other. Recreate this iconic dish with Morinaga red bean paste or add it to cakes or use it as an ice cream topping, too!
Ogura An Red Bean Paste – Available at Amazon
23. Mochiko Sweet Rice Flour
Try your hand at making sticky and chewy rice cakes known as mochi with mochiko flour from a family-owned farm in Japan. Mochi made from mochiko, sugar, and water is an alternative to mochi made from pounded sweet rice, which doesn’t stay fresh and soft for long. Use mochi made from mochiko to make a thin wrapping for mochi ice cream or daifuku, a ball of mochi with a whole strawberry and sweet red bean paste filling.
Mochiko Sweet Rice Flour – Available at Amazon
24. Okinawan Brown Sugar
Okinawa brown sugar, or kokuto, is an unrefined whole cane sugar with a pleasing smoky flavor that adds a rich depth to foods and drinks. There are a variety of Okinwan brown sugars on the market and their distinct flavor comes from its processing method and island on which it was grown. Hateruma Island is home to the most prized of all Okinawan sugars and is a flavorful and healthy sweetener that can be added to your coffee or tea or as a substitute for refined sugar in cooking and baking.
Okinawan Brown Sugar – Available at Amazon
25. Matcha Powder
Matcha powder is a delicious gateway ingredient to the wonderful world of traditional Japanese sweets known as wagashi. This matcha, or green tea powder from Zen no Ocha is 100% organic and is made in Uji, an area of Kyoto known throughout Japan for its high quality tea leaves. Use the bitterness of matcha and its aroma to balance out the sweetness in cakes, candies, chocolates, cookies, ice cream, shakes, and more.
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October 16, 2020 | Lifestyle, Shopping
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