Kabocha Korokke is deep fried mashed kabocha squash mixed with ground meat and onion. It is a variation of Korokke (Japanese croquette), which is usually made with mashed potatoes. This beloved Japanese dish is great to be served as an appetizer or main dish, and it’s perfect to pack in a bento box.
While there are plenty of ramen restaurants that serve high-quality bowls with handmade noodles and slow-simmered broth, there’s something special about making ramen at home.Even though we have several ramen recipes on our site that use fresh or dried noodles, sometimes you just need something quick and comforting. That’s where instant ramen shines — it’s…
Tamagoyaki is a Japanese-style rolled omelette, often made by layering thin sheets of seasoned egg in a rectangular pan. While it may look complicated, it’s surprisingly simple to make—and it’s a beloved part of Japanese breakfasts and bento lunches.Don’t have a special Tamagoyaki pan? No problem! You can easily make it using a regular round…
Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce (bachans.com) has been gaining popularity in the U.S. over the last couple of years, and I’ve heard about it more times than I can count—from foodies online to my own American husband and teenage son, both of whom are big fans. People have asked me what I think of it. Honestly,…
Today’s easy bento box features Trader Joe’s Vegetable Bird’s Nests — fully cooked and frozen “nests” of julienned vegetables coated in tempura batter and deep-fried. They resemble Japanese kakiage, a type of tempura made with a variety of vegetables. These nests can be reheated to light, crispy perfection in the oven or air fryer —…
It’s mid-August, and another school year is about to start for my kids. Back-to-school this year is bittersweet for me, as my son is now a high school senior (my daughter is already in college). I’ve been making bento box lunches for my kids almost every day since they were in preschool, even though school…
Roasted Kabocha with Soy Maple Butter is an easy and delicious way to eat Kabocha squash, also known as Japanese pumpkin. Kabocha is cut into bite sized pieces and coated with melted butter mixed with maple syrup, olive oil, and soy sauce. There are so many ways to cook Kabocha (see all of our Kabocha…
When you are craving for Karaage or deep-fried chicken, but you have no time or energy to make it at home, this easy air fryer chicken karaage recipe is for you! It’s also a lot healthier than the typical deep-fried Karaage. Chicken thighs are cut into small bite size pieces, seasoned well with typical pantry…
Garlic Yaki Onigiri is a variation of Yaki Onigiri, Japanese rice balls that are grilled to crisp on the outside. In this recipe, we simply pan-fried the rice balls with oil infused with garlic. Seasoning is quite simple, only with soy sauce, but Katsuobushi bonito flakes mixed in the rice adds so much umami to…
Karaage is a popular deep-fried dish, which is most often made with chicken. Avocado Karaage is a plant based alternative, and it’s vegan and gluten free. Bite sized avocado pieces are lightly seasoned, coated with potato starch, and deep fried in avocado oil. It’s creamy inside and crispy outside. This is a delightful appetizer for…