15 Simple and Affordable Japanese Recipes
The Japanese food craze in Singapore has been at it’s peak for years, with countless new Japanese restaurants popping up at every other corner. The queues and waiting time at some of the more popular ones are simply ridiculous, and can range from a short half hour to an unbelievable hour and a half!
We’ve got just the solution for you to beat the queue. We’ve curated 15 of your favourite Japanese food dishes, and will show you how to make them with easy and affordable recipes. Yes! You will now be able to replicate these dishes and enjoy them right in the comfort of your own home!
(Note: The estimated cost of each dish does not include the Japanese cooking essentials such as Kikkoman Soy Sauce ($4.25), Mirin ($3.40) and Sake ($18).)
1. Chawanmushi
Photo Source: seattlemag
Chawanmushi is a Japanese steamed egg appetizer that is healthy and easy to make! Best eaten hot and straight out of the steamer, good chawanmushi has a light and smooth texture. Consisting of mainly eggs, chicken stock, chicken meat and mushrooms (you can add other ingredients if you please), it is a great appetizer for an authentic Japanese meal.
Ingredients Required: Eggs, Mirin, Sake, Soy Sauce, Shiitake Mushrooms and Chicken.
Estimated Cost: $5 for 4 servings
For the full Recipe, click here.
2. Miso Soup
Photo Source: japanesecooking101
Miso Soup is a Japanese soup which consists of Dashi stock and Miso Paste. It is extremely simple to make and a must have in all Japanese meals. If you are feeling lazy, you can also buy the instant Miso soup mix which tastes just as good as any other Miso Soup you make!
Ingredients Required: Miso, Dashi, Silken Tofu, Seaweed, Green Onions
Estimated Cost: $8-$10 for 4-5 servings
For the full recipe, click here.
3. Zaru Udon
Photo Source: ijustwantfood
A very light and refreshing staple food, Zaru Udon is extremely healthy and easy to prepare. Zaru Udon is fresh udon in a Dashi sauce with radish, and that’s it!
Ingredients Required: Fresh Udon, Zaru Dipping Sauce, Seaweed, Radish
Estimated Cost: $8 for 2-3 servings
For the full recipe, click here.
4. Tempura Soft Shell Crab
Image Source: Kensai Kitchen (#B1-03 Liang Court)
Everyone loves Soft Shell Crabs. Although it is something that is not very traditionally Japanese, it is served in most Japanese restaurants. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, Soft Shell Crab is a good side dish and surprisingly, extremely easy to make. However, soft shell crab is seasonal and is not always readily available in Singapore.
Ingredients Required: Fresh Soft Shell Crab, Tempura Flour, Plain Flour, Lemon, Soda Water
Estimated Cost: $30 for 5 pieces
For the full recipe, click here.
5. Mushroom Tempura
Photo Source: japanese-food
For all mushroom lovers, what could be better than a whole meal full of all different types of fried mushrooms? Tempura is a simple Japanese seafood or vegetable appetizer that is battered and deep fried. Some other common tempura ingredients are Prawns, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes and Eggplant.
Ingredients Required: Flour, Eggs, Dashi, Mirin, Soy Sauce, Mushrooms
Estimated Cost: $3-$5
For the full recipe, click here.
6. Gyoza
Image Source: Tonkotsu Kazan Gyoza (#01-10 at Liang Court)
Gyoza is a pan-fried pork dumpling that goes really well with vinegar dipping sauce and a good appetizer to have. Furthermore, it’s a favorite to many in Singapore who frequent Japanese restaurants. It may seem very difficult to make, but it’s actually pretty simple if you use ready made Gyoza skin with minced pork and cabbage.
Pre-made Gyozas, that are also very authentic, are also readily available at Japanese supermarkets!
Ingredients Required: Gyoza Skin, Minced Pork, Cabbage, Garlic, Ginger, Green Onions
Estimated Cost: $8 for 15 pieces
For the full recipe, click here.
7. Yakiniku
Photo Source: purple-eats
Yakiniku is a very simple and delicious grilled or stir fried beef dish that goes wonderfully well with Japanese rice. Topped with onions and vegetables, the selling point here is the Yakiniku sauce that is absolutely mouth-watering.
Ingredients Required: Beef Steak, Sake, Mirin, Sesame Oil, Ginger, Garlic, Soy Sauce
Estimated Cost: Varying depending on cut of beef you wish to get.
For the full recipe, click here.
8. Garlic Fried Rice
Photo Source: mywisewife
A popular staple for Japanese food is Garlic Fried Rice. Easy to make, delicious and ingredients that cost almost next to nothing, it makes more sense making it on your own rather than paying $8-$10 for a tiny portion at a Japanese restaurant.
Ingredients Required: Leftover Rice, Garlic, Onions, Soy Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Eggs
Estimated Cost: $3-5
For the full recipe, click here.
9. Japanese Curry
Japanese Curry is an easy and fool-proof dish that can be prepared in just under 20 minutes! It is also healthy and not spicy, making it a dish that caters to just about everyone. One thing to note is that one box of Japanese Curry paste is enough to feed 5 people!
Ingredients Required: Curry Roux, Potatoes, Carrots, Chicken cubes
Estimated Cost: $8 for 5 portions
For the full recipe, click here.
10. Chicken Teriyaki
Photo Source: norecipes
Another dish that can be prepared in just under 20 minutes and can be eaten with just rice, Chicken Teriyaki is a popular dish that is traditionally Japanese. Furthermore, why waste money in buying bottled teriyaki sauce, when you can make your own?
Ingredients Required: Chicken Thigh, Sake, Soy Sauce, Sugar, Green Onions
Estimated Cost: $5
For the full recipe, click here.
11. Mochi
Photo Source: asianfoodgrocer
Japanese Mochi ball is a dessert that has become increasingly popular here in Singapore. It is sweet and smooth, and is a wonderful dessert after a heartening Japanese meal.
Ingredients Required: Mochiko (Mochi flour), Sugar, Corn Starch, Anko (Red Bean Paste)
Estimated Cost: $15 for more than 20 balls
For the full recipe, click here.
12. Matcha Ice Cream
Photo Source: myteabreak
Traditional Matcha (Green Tea) Ice-Cream is a must have at the end of any Japanese meal. It can either be eaten on its own, or together with Mochi balls as well!
Ingredients Required: Green Tea Powder, Sugar, Eggs, Milk, Cream
Estimated Cost: $10 (excluding ice-cream maker)
Full Recipes: Without Ice Cream Maker: click here | With Ice Cream Maker: click here.
– BONUS! –
13. Shabu Shabu
A traditional Japanese steamboat, Shabu Shabu is very simple to prepare and is a good party idea to have with some friends or family. Some common ingredients for Shabu Shabu is Beef, Prawns, Fish, Cabbage and different kinds of Mushrooms!
Ingredients Required: Kelp, Sliced Beef, Shiitake Mushrooms, Shimeji Mushrooms, Eggs, Vegetables.
Estimated Cost: Varies depending on ingredients and cut of beef.
For the full recipe, click here.
14. Salmon Aburi
Photo Source: thehungryexcavator
Why pay $4 for one tiny piece of sushi at a Japanese restaurant, when you can easily make one at home for more than half the price?
Ingredients Required: Japanese Rice, Salmon Sashimi, Rice Wine Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Wasabi.
Estimated Cost: $15 for 10 pieces
For the full recipe, click here.
15. Flavored Egg + Ramen
Source: Marutama (#02-01 Liang Court)
Ramen may not be a very easy dish to master, but with practice it will only get better and well worth the rather lengthy preparation time, which is largely because the soup base needs to be boiled overnight and is the main essence of a great Ramen dish! Another reason why everyone loves Ramen is because of the delicious flavored egg!
Ingredients Required: Ramen Noodles, Pork Bone, Ginger, Garlic, Green Onions, Salt, Sake, Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, Eggs
Estimated Cost: $15 for 4-5 portions
For the full recipe, click here for Ramen, and here for the Flavored Egg!
Getting the Ingredients to these dishes
Image Source: MEDI-YA
We hope that you have enjoyed these recipes listed here. All the food items and ingredients listed here can be found at MEDI-YA Supermarket, located in the basement of Liang Court (#B1-50).
MEDI-YA Supermarket is the secret behind many recipes of Japanese housewives in Singapore. They promise the most authentic, freshest and affordable ingredients while being conveniently located at Clarke Quay. In fact, some imported Japanese goods in Singapore can only be found here at Medi-Ya and some of our friends come here just to buy their quality wagyu meats.
And if you are looking for even more, you can also source for other Japanese ingredients in Liang Court at Nanairo (#B1-07) and SAGACHIKU (#B1-13).
Image Source: SAGACHIKU
Image Source: Nanairo
If you’re looking for more Japanese inspiration, you might also want to check out our guide to the Best Ramen in Singapore.
This post was brought to you by Liang Court.