Making Breakfast the Traditional Japanese Way

Making up a full balanced plate, a breakfast is likely to consist of steamed rice, a piece of protein, such as grilled fish, a miso soup and a few smaller side dishes. While this may seem like a lot of food, especially if you find yourself skipping breakfast in a hurry every morning, the breakfast meal is far lighter than Japanese lunch or dinner as it does not usually contain any greasy or deep-fried items, or anything too rich and creamy. Portions will also be proportional to the person eating it, so you probably won’t end up with a heaped portion of rice and fish each morning if you only have a small appetite!

What Dishes Are Enjoyed in a Traditional Japanese Breakfast?

• Rice – Rice is an essential part of the traditional breakfast. Either white or brown steamed rice is used. Alternatively, it can be turned into rice porridge.
  
• Grilled Fish – Also known as Yakizakana, fish is a popular addition at the breakfast table. The fish tends to either be broiled, grilled or pan-fried. Any type of fish works, but the most popular include salmon and dried Japanese horse mackerel (aka. Aji). The fish is usually served only seasoned with salt.
  
• Miso Soup – A traditional soup made from stock (dashi) and miso paste. It most commonly includes chunks of tofu.
  
• Pickled Vegetables – Known as Tsukemono, these Japanese pickles are a popular side dish that accompanies any and all rice dishes. One of the most common types of pickle is the umeboshi, a pickled plum, which can be enjoyed alongside both steamed rice or rice porridge.
  
• Fermented Soy Beans – This high protein dish, called Natto, is served on top of the steamed rice. It has a slimy texture and smells quite strongly. Soy sauce is always added, and other optional extras such as seasoned seaweed or green onion can also be included for a boost of flavour.
  
• Dried Seaweed – Nori is a seasoned, dried seaweed, which is eaten with rice.
  
• Kobachi – A small side dish of vegetables. This can be a mix of cooked vegetables or a fresh salad.

How Is All Of That Food Prepared!?

The traditional Japanese breakfast clearly takes a little more effort to prepare than just shaking out cornflakes into a bowl! To help cut down the morning rush, a number of shortcuts are taken to make putting together this breakfast feast a little easier. One way is by using leftovers from the night before, particularly for rice and miso soup, which can then simply be reheated for breakfast. Rice cookers with timers are also used to heat up rice or porridge in time for breakfast. The side dishes, such as the nori, natto or tsukemono, are also often bought packaged, or ready-made from grocery stores in Japan, meaning that the only preparation needed is dishing them up! Then, all that needs to be added is a piece of protein, such as fish or eggs.

If you’d like to try a traditional Japanese breakfast, then you can find rice and delicious side dishes, such as oriental pickles, at Oriental Mart! 

Image Credit: higuccini | Instagram