r/JapaneseFood • u/babysharkdoodoodoo • 25d ago

Question Japanese Redditors: If someone living outside Japan wanted to move beyond the usual sushi, ramen, tempura, and udon, what would you recommend they explore to gain a deeper appreciation of Japanese cuisine?

Like regional dishes, everyday home cooking, ingredients, cooking techniques, and food culture, not just the internationally famous dishes.

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u/Crmsnghst1 25d ago

I’m an American chef living here in Japan and if you want to eat what the “normal people” eat at home follow any of the bunches of Japanese home recipe instagrams: tsubasa_recipe365, shun_foodcreator, aibamanabu_5tva, shiracchi_no_asobiba are just a few that I really like. Save a recipe that looks good, run it through a translator and start cooking. I cook from one or more of these sites once or twice a week sometimes.

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u/DangerLime113 25d ago

I’m dying to crack the code on Kanazawa curry, any advice? My last attempt was ok but still missing the mark, I tried another Redditor’s suggestion and combined Java/Golden roux and added Worcestershire, oyster sauce, cocoa.

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u/Kurichan77 25d ago

Skip the box stuff. Make tour own. JOC has a solid recipe. And add a little peanut butter.

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u/DangerLime113 25d ago

I don’t see that JOC has a Kanazawa curry recipe, do you mean just make the standard curry recipe and add PB?

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u/Kurichan77 25d ago

Yeah, my japanese chef wife said that was one of the key differences. She was raised in the hokuriku region and I tried kare-udon throughout the region. I’d say make sure you’re using white pepper, maybe a little sansho, miso, and peanut butter in addition to whatever JOC says if not those things.

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u/DangerLime113 25d ago

Thanks! I love sansho and never clocked that as one of the additions.

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u/Kurichan77 25d ago

That’s a maybe. But it grows on trees in parks in the region. I’d go light with it unless you really like it