The bible of Japanese cuisine

As I have previously shared on my site and in my blog of July 13, 2024, I love Japanese food and cooking. So far I already had two books on my shelf: Japanese Culinary Enjoyment and Japanese Cooking by Harumi Kurihara. But honestly, both books didn't quite meet my expectations. For example, the book Culinary Enjoyment Japanese was a bit small and the recipes in Japanese Cooking were often too complex for a family with two children. The ingredients were often difficult to find in the Netherlands, so I only had about four recipes that I made regularly. On the AH app I found a great recipe for a poke bowl and for okonomiyaki, and online I came across a nice recipe for tamagoyaki - but that was it.

We wanted to eat healthier and tastier food. And by 'tastier' I mainly mean that we are not fans of Dutch cuisine. But hey, just find something that's quick and easy to make.

Until I came across the Bible of Japanese Cuisine by Tosao van Coevorden at the Xenos at the end of September. I picked up the preview copy and was immediately enthusiastic. Still, I decided not to buy the book myself. I told my husband, and you guessed it: last Saturday I received the book as a surprise! How nice is that?  

My plan now is to try a new recipe from this book every week. On Wednesday, November 6, I made the recipe for okonomiyaki, a savory pancake with cabbage and bacon. I decided to combine the recipe a bit with the recipe I got from the AH app earlier, and honestly, it was even tastier than the last time! So I'm very curious about the other recipes. You can see them passing by on my Instagram @hello_daphne_nl.

What's so great about Japanese cuisine?

What me and my family love about Japanese cuisine is that it is generally nutritious and very tasty. Japanese cuisine is not just about preparing dishes, but also about celebrating nature and embracing seasonal ingredients. This is called shun. Each season brings unique flavors and ingredients, so you learn to cook with what is available at that time. It's a beautiful way to experience the seasons not only in your home, but also in your kitchen.

I also find it interesting how the Japanese present fast food as a high-quality meal, and I can tell you: it really is. In Japan, for example, there is the Yoshinoya chain, which serves the tastiest bowls, such as the beef sukiyaki hot pot meal, black curry with egg and rice, or a pork bowl. It's surprising how in such a fast food chain you get such tasty and nutritious dishes for a reasonable price. For example, a beef sukiyaki hot pot meal costs ¥877 (about €5.30). You could just get a Happy Meal for that at McDonald's, but believe me, you can't compare it in terms of taste and nutritional value.

What makes this Bible of Japanese Cuisine so great?

What I love about the Bible of Japanese Cuisine is that the recipes are really achievable. The ingredients can be found at a good supermarket, a well-stocked store, or an Asian wholesaler. This makes cooking much easier and more fun. What is also useful is that the recipes clearly indicate whether it is a side dish or main dish, how many people it is intended for and how much time it will take.

What I also appreciate is that the book uses ingredients that I already have at home, such as soy sauce, miso, dashi, sake and mirin. This makes cooking a lot easier, because you don't have to look for exotic ingredients every time. Plus, it explains some basic techniques and recipes that I missed in the books I had before. This means that I can finally start working in Japanese cuisine with confidence.

In short, this book really helped me to bring Japanese cuisine into my own kitchen in an accessible way. And I'm excited to try out even more recipes in the near future – you'll see it on my social media!