Occasionally I have the opportunity to eat with some of my clients. Japanese cuisine often uses ingredients that are only native to Japan, and I am often asked for information about them. To be precise, they are not only found in Japan, but also in other Asian countries.
For example, bamboo shoots. Bamboo shoots are young bamboo plants that can be eaten in spring. Wild vegetables are also among the foods eaten in spring. Europeans often cook mushrooms in the fall, which evokes a similar sensation. The Japanese feel spring when they eat wild vegetables. Of course, the Japanese also love mushrooms.
Not forgetting the Japanese herbs.
Shiso is an herb leaf that is often served with sashimi. It has antioxidant properties, contains vitamins and minerals, is healthy and never decorative.
Mitsuba is another herb that the Japanese love. It is often found in miso soup or chawanmushi (steamed egg with broth).
The Japanese also eat a lot of root vegetables.
The lotus root is the underground stem of the lotus plant. We often eat it as tempura or as a cooked dish. Sometimes it is also added to Japanese curry. It contains vitamin C and is a very healthy vegetable.
Burdock root is also commonly eaten in Japan. It is often cooked with carrots and seasoned with soy sauce and sugar. Sometimes it is also cooked and made into salads.
It is rich in fiber, which is also healthy.
Speaking of burdock, there is an anecdote about an Australian soldier who was taken prisoner during the Pacific War and complained of mistreatment.
Japanese soldiers complained that burdock roots were added to the meals to feed the prisoners, while the prisoners, who were unaware of this, were fed tree roots.
There are also some interesting potato varieties in Japan.
First of all, I would like to mention konnyaku. This is a food made from a type of taro tuber. It is rubbery and soft and has no calories per se. The Japanese often eat it as a stew, but it is also popular when made into a sweet jelly. As it has no calories, it is a very popular food, especially when dieting.
The Japanese also love long taro. It can be chopped up and mixed into okonomiyaki (“Japanese-style pizza”) or made into a sauce with stock and served over rice.
Japanese cuisine is becoming more and more popular all over the world, but there are still many foods that are not so well known. Ramen and sushi are of course delicious, but you should also try other dishes.