Hey guys! Are you ready to dive into the delicious world of Japanese main courses? Japanese cuisine is famous for its incredible flavors, artful presentation, and healthy ingredients. Beyond sushi and ramen, there's a whole universe of main dishes waiting to be explored. So, let's get started and discover some must-try Japanese delights!

1. Sushi and Sashimi: The Classics

When you think of Japanese food, sushi and sashimi probably pop into your head first! Sushi refers to vinegared rice, often topped with other ingredients like fish, vegetables, and eggs. Sashimi, on the other hand, is thinly sliced raw fish or seafood served without rice. Both are incredibly popular and come in countless varieties.

Types of Sushi

• Nigiri: Hand-pressed sushi rice topped with a slice of fish. Simple, yet elegant.
• Maki: Sushi rolls, with ingredients rolled in seaweed (nori). Think California rolls, tuna rolls, and spicy salmon rolls.
• Uramaki: Inside-out rolls, where the rice is on the outside and the nori is on the inside. The California roll is a classic example.
• Temaki: Hand-rolled sushi cones. Fun to eat and easy to customize.
• Inari: Fried tofu pouches filled with sushi rice. Sweet and savory!

What Makes Sushi Special?

The key to great sushi is the quality of the ingredients. Fresh, high-grade fish is essential, and the rice must be perfectly cooked and seasoned. Sushi chefs train for years to master the art of preparing sushi, from slicing the fish to shaping the rice.

Enjoying Sushi

When eating sushi, it's customary to dip the fish side into soy sauce, not the rice. This prevents the rice from absorbing too much soy sauce and becoming too salty. Wasabi and ginger are also common accompaniments. Wasabi adds a kick of heat, while ginger cleanses the palate between bites.

2. Ramen: The Soul Food

Ramen is basically the ultimate comfort food! This noodle soup dish is a staple in Japan, and it comes in countless regional variations. Each bowl is a symphony of flavors, with a rich broth, chewy noodles, and a variety of toppings.

The Key Elements of Ramen

• Broth: The heart of ramen. Common types include tonkotsu (pork bone broth), shoyu (soy sauce broth), miso (fermented soybean paste broth), and shio (salt broth). The broth is simmered for hours, sometimes days, to extract maximum flavor.
• Noodles: Ramen noodles are made from wheat flour, water, salt, and kansui, an alkaline mineral water that gives them their characteristic chewiness and yellow color. Different types of noodles are used depending on the broth and the region.
• Toppings: The toppings add texture and flavor to the ramen. Common toppings include chashu (braised pork belly), ajitama (soft-boiled egg), menma (fermented bamboo shoots), nori (seaweed), and negi (green onions).

Regional Ramen Varieties

• Hakata Ramen: From Fukuoka, known for its creamy tonkotsu broth and thin, straight noodles.
• Sapporo Ramen: From Hokkaido, featuring a rich miso broth, butter, and corn.
• Tokyo Ramen: A classic shoyu ramen with curly noodles and a variety of toppings.
• Kitakata Ramen: From Fukushima, known for its thick, flat noodles and light, refreshing broth.

The Ramen Experience

Ramen is meant to be eaten quickly while the noodles are still hot and chewy. Slurping is not only acceptable but encouraged, as it helps to aerate the noodles and enhance the flavor. Don't be afraid to customize your ramen with extra toppings or spices!

3. Tempura: Crispy and Light

Tempura is a dish of lightly battered and deep-fried seafood and vegetables. The key to good tempura is the batter, which should be light, airy, and crispy. Tempura is often served with a dipping sauce called tentsuyu, made from dashi, soy sauce, and mirin.

The Art of Tempura

The batter for tempura is typically made from flour, water, and egg. It's important to keep the batter cold to prevent it from becoming too glutenous. The ingredients are dipped in the batter and then deep-fried in hot oil until golden brown and crispy.

Popular Tempura Ingredients

• Shrimp: A classic tempura ingredient. The shrimp should be fresh and plump.
• Vegetables: Common vegetables for tempura include sweet potato, pumpkin, eggplant, and green beans.
• Seafood: Other types of seafood that are often used in tempura include squid, scallops, and white fish.

Enjoying Tempura

Tempura is best enjoyed fresh from the fryer. Dip the tempura in the tentsuyu sauce and add a little grated daikon radish and ginger to enhance the flavor. Tempura can be served as a main course or as a side dish.

4. Okonomiyaki: Savory Pancake

Okonomiyaki is often described as a savory pancake, but it's so much more than that! This dish is made from a batter of flour, eggs, and shredded cabbage, with a variety of ingredients added in. It's a popular street food in Japan, and each region has its own unique style.

The Okonomiyaki Experience

Okonomi literally means "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki means "grilled" or "cooked". So, okonomiyaki is basically a grilled dish with whatever ingredients you like! Common ingredients include pork belly, shrimp, squid, cheese, and vegetables.

Regional Varieties

• Osaka-style: The ingredients are mixed into the batter and grilled on a griddle.
• Hiroshima-style: The batter is cooked as a thin crepe, and the ingredients are layered on top. Noodles are often added to Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.

Toppings and Sauces

Okonomiyaki is typically topped with a sweet and savory okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, dried seaweed flakes (aonori), and dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi).

5. Yakitori: Grilled Skewers

Yakitori is a dish of grilled chicken skewers. The chicken is cut into small pieces, skewered, and then grilled over charcoal. Yakitori is a popular izakaya (Japanese pub) dish, and it's often served with beer or sake.

Types of Yakitori

• Momo: Thigh meat, the most popular type of yakitori.
• Negima: Chicken and scallions, a classic combination.
• Tsukune: Chicken meatballs, often seasoned with ginger and soy sauce.
• Kawa: Chicken skin, crispy and flavorful.
• Reba: Chicken liver, for those who like a more intense flavor.

Sauces and Seasonings

Yakitori is typically seasoned with either tare (a sweet soy sauce-based sauce) or salt. The tare sauce is brushed onto the skewers while they're grilling, giving them a glossy and flavorful finish.

6. Tonkatsu: Breaded and Fried Pork Cutlet

Tonkatsu is a dish of breaded and deep-fried pork cutlet. The pork is coated in flour, egg, and panko breadcrumbs, then deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. Tonkatsu is often served with shredded cabbage, rice, and tonkatsu sauce.

Preparing Tonkatsu

The key to good tonkatsu is to use a thick cut of pork loin or fillet. The pork is pounded to tenderize it, then coated in the breading mixture. The tonkatsu is deep-fried in hot oil until it's cooked through and the breadcrumbs are golden brown.

Accompaniments

Tonkatsu is typically served with shredded cabbage, which helps to cut through the richness of the pork. It's also served with rice and tonkatsu sauce, a thick, sweet, and tangy sauce that's specifically made for tonkatsu.

7. Curry Rice: A Comforting Classic

Japanese curry rice, or kare raisu, is a comforting and flavorful dish that's loved by people of all ages. It consists of a thick, savory curry sauce served over a bed of rice, often with meat and vegetables.

The Curry Sauce

Japanese curry sauce is typically made with curry powder, flour, and a variety of vegetables and spices. It's simmered for hours to develop a rich and complex flavor. Common ingredients include carrots, potatoes, and onions.

Toppings and Variations

• Chicken katsu curry: Tonkatsu (breaded and fried chicken cutlet) served on top of curry rice.
• Pork katsu curry: Tonkatsu (breaded and fried pork cutlet) served on top of curry rice.
• Vegetable curry: A vegetarian version of curry rice with a variety of vegetables.

Serving Curry Rice

Curry rice is usually served in a large bowl or plate, with the rice on one side and the curry sauce on the other. It's a hearty and satisfying meal that's perfect for a cold day.

Conclusion

So there you have it – a delicious journey through some of the best Japanese main courses! From the elegance of sushi to the comforting warmth of ramen and curry rice, there's something for everyone to enjoy. I hope this has inspired you to try something new and explore the wonderful world of Japanese cuisine. Happy eating, guys!