What a lot people don’t know about Japan is the love for not just Japanese Food, but for western food as well. These types of western dishes are called Yoshoku and have been perfected by the Japanese with their own twist of local ingredients and flavors. Popular dishes include Hambagu(Hamburgers), Pasta, Cabbage Rolls and Potato Salad to name a few.
Yes really!
1. No Panko or Breadcrumbs are used in Tempura, as this method of using breadcrumbs is called Furai.
2. Tempura traces its root back in the 1600s from contact with traders of Portugal.
3. Because of the airy texture caused by the method used in Tempura frying, only vegetables and seafood are used. So this means no meats and that includes chicken.
Once in a while when visiting a foreign country, you sometimes get that craving for some fast food American style. What many people don't know is that Japan is the hub for all types of food, and they make it good.
Everybody loves tempura as it is a household name in many Japanese restaurants across the world. Who doesn’t love the warm crunchy taste of shrimp or yam tempura?
What many don’t know is that they are many types of frying/deep frying dishes in Japan such as Korokke, Tempura, Furai, Tonkatsu etc.
Ho Chi Minh City, located in Southern Vietnam, is one of the largest cities in South East Asia. The city is not just known for Southern Vietnamese Cuisine but for also for many styles of cuisine with influences from France and China. One area to visit for a bite, is a place callled Ding Cong Trang area. You will find 100s of people eating outside with many outdoor food vendors to choose from.
Ho Chi Minh is great for the budget travelers as well as for those looking for 4 star meals.
Though shirataki rice or miracle rice is still fairly new to the Western culinary world, it has been a part of the Asian diet for nearly 2000 years. The rice is prepared from a flour that is obtained from a root(like a potato) called the konnyaku and is from the Konjac plant. The konnyaku flour is also known as "glucomannan.
Shirataki rice has recently earned lot of attention in North America and Europe because the rice actually contains zero carbs, zero calories and absolutely no fat. Hence, this rice has become the preferred choice of many dieters. It isn't yet as popular as Shirataki Noodles, but has been gaining ground in the health industry. The issue for both Shirataki Noodles but more so the rice is the cost and also the competetion from brown and wild rice.
The rice is so low in carbohydrates and calories it is said to be consumed by Japanese women on a regular basis to stay slim. And, apart from being calorie free, the rice is also soy free and gluten free, so it is particularly beneficial for those with soy and gluten allergies. Moreover, the rice is affordable and simple and quick to prepare. It also has little flavor of its own, but it can effortlessly blend into numerous Asian dishes. The rice easily absorbs the flavor of the spice or sauce you prepare.
The rice is primarily made of soluble fiber that is essential for many of us. This fiber helps to fills you up by making you feel sated, and also aids in digestion. The miracle rice slows down your digestion process, which in turn, slows and regulates the absorption of glucose, thus making it beneficial for diabetics. The rice can essentially aid with diabetes control. In addition, consuming glucomannan can help with constipation, but without making you feel or bloated. There are evidence to prove that soluble fiber also helps to lower cholesterol and prevent hemorrhoids and diverticulitis.
You can easily replace one meal with a low fat, low calorie meal that includes Shirataki rice in order to cut down your caloric intake and enhance your overall health. Due, to all these essential benefits, this guilt-free rice is aptly known as the Miracle Rice!
Sushi, a Japanese delicacy consisting of vinegared rice combined with other ingredients has become a global phenomenon. However, traditional Japanese sushi was not entirely suited to the Western palates, and Japanese chefs living in the west came up with Western style sushi to account for the differences in Japanese and Western tastes.
Okonomiyaki is basically a Japanese Pancake, but it’s not like anything you have seen in any Pancake House in America. A better comparison would be a cross between a Pancake and a Pizza. You can add any fillings/toppings and as much of it as you like. Some basic ingredients used in Japan are ramen noodles, meats like pork, cabbage, and eggs(sunny side up or fried).
Wagyu is very high quality Japanese beef that is produced by indigenous Japanese cattle breeds like the Japanese Black. Many of these cattle are reared in strictly controlled conditions and have never left the boarders of Japan let alone specific regions. What’s more, the beef they produce is intricately graded and attached to price tags that would make many of us blush. For more detail on Wagyu beef, please read our article on Kobe Beef.
Michael Booth’s book Sushi and Beyond has taken his readers at home and abroad by storm. The book focuses on a one hundred day journey through some very unlikely areas as well as well known areas throughout Japan. The book focuses on the vast culture of Japan and its many exotic food choices. Michael Booth has had his book published in both the UK and Japan where it is currently holding steady in the top ten. In fact an anime series is set to come out soon that will feature Booth and his family.