Japanese style, small-plate Tapas dishes of grilled meats, pickled vegetables, seafood and noodle dishes, for home dining.
Japanese Dining At Home
Who am I to tell you about Japanese cuisine? Hah! If you only knew… no, if a production company would turn the television series scripts I have written, into a television show for you to watch, you would know why I am sharing with you my passion for Japanese cuisine and it’s culture.
In short… I studied Japanese for three years at the Japan American Society in Washington DC, because I was so drawn to the culture. Named my first born son a Japanese name (even though his father is Korean, just to tick him off!).
My second son IS Japanese. There is much I could tell you about the fact that most Asian cultures look to Japanese food the way westerners do French food but for now I just want to wet your appetite to try something a little new, at home.
Izakaya: Small Plate Japanese Tapas
How do I love eating small plate style dining? Let me count the ways! Izakaya is an informal ‘meet-up’ dining and drinking place with an array of small plate Japanese dishes that will have you leave full and never return to entree dish style eating again!
Unfortunately, many towns across America do not have Izakaya places, so I wanted to explore the many Japanese food options that could be easily prepared in nearly everyone’s home.
Japanese Food
While there are a multitude of Asian style recipes, my most favorite have always been for Japanese food. Grilled meats on little skewers, seafood prepared in a vast variety of ways, yet never bogged down with oil or swimming in sauces. Healthy, sometimes spicy yet not saucy and always beautifully presented.
Izakaya Is Japanese Comfort Food
Sharing plates of familiar dishes found in most Japanese restaurants, yet prepared at home, such as:
- Yakitori – grilled meat, though ‘tori’ refers to chicken, most yakitori served in restaurants are a variety of meats
- Tamago – rolled egg omelette often with seaweed, soy sauce and a pinch of sugar
- Gyoza – dumplings filled with meat, seafood or vegetables
- Tsukemono – pickled or preserved vegetables
- Noodle Dishes – a variety of noodles made from wheat, buckwheat, rice, mung bean, even seaweed
- Shifudo, Always Shifudo – Seafood, yet not sushi or sashimi
Home Cooking Izakaya
Is it possible to duplicate an Izakaya experience at home? Of course! They are simply a variety of many small plates beautifully displayed in Japanese style dining. If ever there was a culture that first eats with their eyes, surely it is the Japanese culture!
Mukimono is the Japanese art of carving vegetables into unusual and beautiful shapes. While we may not wish to spend so much time with this lovely art form for our home Izakaya experience, the addition of eatable flower buds or peddles can surely satisfy the eye before reaching into a communal dish with your chopsticks!
How To Make Izakaya Sauce For Several Cold Plates
Since many of the dishes are served cold or room temperature, except items placed on a tabletop grill, I will share with you two of my most favorite sauces that can be incorporated into noodles dishes, seafood dishes, or vegetable dishes.
One is a sweet and sour dressing while the other a hot yet smooth coconut dressing. Both have a kick of heat to them and both bring out the flavors in any of the dishes from noodles to a lovely prepared squid!
Once the selection of items you plan to serve have been beautifully cut, gently steamed, or lightly grilled, set them each out in front of you and decide which dressing best matches the items you have chosen.
For example, a lightly boiled noodle might be enhanced by the coconut dressing while a fish item would benefit from the sweet and sour dressing that is made with dried fish flakes.
Since many of the items are served cold or room temperature, plan accordingly to your personal taste.
Ingredients Needed
- Rice vinegar
- Sugar
- Chili flakes
- Toasted sesame seed oil
- Spring onions
- Soy sauce
- Bonito flakes
- Coconut milk
- Lime juice
- Coconut oil
- Garlic
- Chili peppers
- Fish sauce
Equipment Needed
- Sauce pan
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Cutting board
- Chopping knife
- Citrus press
- Garlic press
- Cooking spoon
- Stovetop or burner
IZAKAYA: Japanese Tapas Home Recipes
Course: Appetizers u0026amp; Tapas, World CuisineCuisine: Japanese6
servingsJapanese style, small-plate Tapas dishes of grilled meats, pickled vegetables, seafood and noodle dishes, for home dining.
Ingredients
Sweet and Sour Dressing
Rice Vinegar – 1/2 cup, rice, coconut or one of your choice
Sugar – 1/3 cup
Chili flakes – a pinch or to taste
Toasted sesame seed oil – 1/4 cup
Soy sauce – 1/4 cup
Spring onions – 1/3 cup, finely chopped
Bonito flakes – 1/2 teaspoon (dried fish flakes)
Coconut Dressing
Coconut milk – 1/2 cup
Lime juice – 3 tablespoons
Coconut oil – 1 tablespoon
Garlic – 2 cloves, crushed
Chili peppers – a pinch, or to taste
Fish sauce – 2 teaspoons
Directions
- Sweet and Sour Dressing
- Place the vinegar and sugar into a saucepan, bring to a simmer to dissolve the sugar and cool.
- Whisk in the chili flakes, spring onions, sesame oil and soy sauce.
- Toss with vegetables, cold seafood, or cold noodles and serve.
- Coconut Dressing
- In a saucepan, warm the coconut milk and coconut oil until they dissolve.
- Remove from the heat and whisk in the remaining ingredients.
- Toss with freshly sautéed squid, steamed noodles or beautifully cut vegetables.
I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.
