Guide to Kaiseki

Kaiseki is a traditional Japanese style of dining that originated from Kyoto. The concept of Kaiseki is to serve many smaller courses, prepared by a chef, using seasonal ingredients. Kaiseki will typically consist of between 6 and 15 courses. We take a look at all you need to know about Kaiseki, and the types of food served.

Origin of Kaiseki

This dining style originates from the 16th century. Kaiseki was different then and mostly consisted of miso soup served with an assortment of side dishes, served similar to a Japanese tea ceremony.

Over the years, Kaiseki has taken inspiration from other dining styles and developed into the multi-course dining experience it is today.

Principles of Kaiseki

Much of Japanese cuisine places importance on the idea of balance, using this to ensure that every element of a dish is perfect. The most important principle within this is the idea of creating dishes based on the season. Image Credit: Nishimuraya Kinosaki Onsen

Seasonality

When we say that Kaiseki is seasonal, it goes far beyond Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. In fact, Kaiseki rarely has a set menu, with ‘proper’ Kaiseki chefs changing the dishes served on a weekly basis.

The theme of seasonality goes beyond the food also. Kaiseki is also a very visual experience, and plates will be adorned with decorative extras based on the season, such as flowers or sprigs from fresh blooms. Servers may also wear a kimono that reflects the season too, making the whole dining experience cohesive.

Dishes may also be elaborately designed to reflect an upcoming event in the Japanese calendar, such as cherry blossom season, hinamatsuri or the spring festival.

Visuality

As mentioned, Kaiseki is also a very visual experience. All the visual elements are carefully planned to make the meal cohesive and to highlight and enhance each dish.

A great deal of care and attention is placed on the presentation of each plate, with a focus on finding the perfect balance between the colours, textures, shapes and tastes present on the plate. Garnishes, such as flowers, will be seasonally appropriate, so a dish served in late March will likely feature cherry blossom, for example.

As well as seasonal designs, the plates could also be decorated to depict the local landscapes, such as mountains, rivers or forests, with location also having an impact on Kaiseki meals.

Local Produce

Another key principle of Kaiseki is that locally sourced ingredients should be used as much as possible within dishes. This ties in greatly with the theme of seasonality, as using local produce ensures that the ingredients are as fresh as possible.Using local produce also enhances the uniqueness of the dining experience, as different areas will grow different crops, which will influence the dishes made.

Kaiseki Courses Will Frequently Change

Due to the seasonal nature of Kaiseki dishes, the number of courses served at a Kaiseki meal will likely change quite frequently. The exact number will be up to the chef, who may need to change the number served each week or so, based on the seasonal ingredients being used.

This may also impact on the order in which the dishes are served, meaning that each Kaiseki meal you enjoy should be unique.

When is Kaiseki Eaten?

Kaiseki is definitely not your everyday affair! This is a meal-type that is reserved for occasions, such as birthdays and anniversaries, when you want something special to celebrate.

What Kaiseki Dishes Are Served?

Kaiseki will typically include an appetizer and sashimi, as well as simmered, grilled and steamed dishes. The exact amount and type of dishes will vary, but this is a rough guide to the general order and type of dishes enjoyed as part of a Kaiseki meal:

Sakizuke/Zensai

This is the appetizer course to start the meal.

Suimono

Soup is often served as a starter in other set meals around the world, and this can also be the case for Kaiseki. Suimono is a clear soup that is sometimes served as a palate cleanser before the full Kaiseki experience begins!

Hassun

The hassun platter is the seasonal dish that helps to set the theme of the entire meal. This will usually be an assortment of items on a platter chosen based on seasonality. A hassun platter will typically include a type of sushi as well as a few small side dishes, such as tamago and pickle.

Mukouzuke

Next is a sashimi platter, which will make use of seasonal and locally sourced fish to create a fresh and flavourful dish.

Takiawase

Takiawase is vegetables served with either meat, fish or tofu. The ingredients will be simmered separately so they can each retain their own unique flavour.

Futamono

Futamono means “lidded dish”, and this course will typically be a soup served in a bowl with a lid. The soup will vary based on the season, but often it will help to refresh your palate between certain courses.

Yakimono

The yakimono course is usually flame-grilled fish, with the specific type of fish depending on the season and what is caught locally.

Nimono

The nimono course involves foods that have been simmered and are typically served in individual lidded bowls. This will usually be vegetables like bamboo shoots, lotus roots and shiitake mushroom that have been simmered in a dashi broth.

Shiizakana

This is usually a larger dish, such as a hot pot.

Mushimono

Mushimono will be a dish that has been steamed. This could be something like steamed egg or egg custard, which may be mixed with ingredients such as shrimp, shiitake mushroom or fish roe.

Sunomono

Sunomono is typically vegetables in vinegar, with the acidic notes used to help cleanse the palate.

Ko no Mono

This is a plate of seasonal pickled vegetables.

Gohan

Gohan is a rice dish, that may be served as just flavoured rice or with a topping of fish or vegetables. Rice is often flavoured with dashi or mirin.

Mizumono

The kaiseki meal ends with a dessert course, which will feature traditional Japanese sweets, such as wagashi, agar jelly, confectionery, fruit or ice cream.

While you’ll never have the same authentic Kaiseki experience at home, there’s certainly nothing stopping you attempting to recreate these dishes in your own kitchen, or even hosting your own Kaiseki night for your friends and family!

If you are looking for Japanese ingredients in the UK to create these dishes, then Oriental Mart has you covered!