My husband and I love Japan. We’ve been there three times and can’t wait to go again. Even though we can’t eat most of the food there, we admire the Japanese diet and their way with food – seasonal, aesthetically pleasing and healthy.
Fish seems to play an important role in keeping the Japanese healthy. Japanese men have similar rates of cholesterol, blood pressure and type-2 diabetes as their American counterparts. But their incidence of heart disease is less than half that of Americans.
Fish seems to play an important role in keeping the Japanese healthy. Japanese men have similar rates of cholesterol, blood pressure and type-2 diabetes as their American counterparts. But their incidence of heart disease is less than half that of Americans.
The answer may be artery-protective omega-3 fatty acids in fish. And fish consumption in Japan is among the highest in the world, averaging 3 ounces (85 grams) a day.
We recently heard from Japanese friends who described a quick and easy summer dinner that they enjoyed:
Grilled fish with grated radish
Boiled edadame (green soybeans)
Cold noodles with fresh ginger
Most of us wouldn’t consider this “quick and easy.” Frozen pizza is closer to our idea.
But with fish fillets, vegetables and noodles, you can prepare a healthy meal in no time, Japanese or Western-style.
I keep several varieties of frozen fish fillets on hand, as well as a package or two of frozen vegetables. My selection of pasta includes Italian egg noodles, whole-wheat penne, rice noodles, udon and soba – Japanese buckwheat noodles.
Bake, broil, grill or sauté the fish fillets and serve them with a squeeze of lemon or a lively salsa. If edadame doesn’t appeal to you, try frozen green beans, broccoli or peas.
And do try these cold soba noodles dressed in a light soy and sesame dressing – very popular in Japan during the hot humid summer months.
COLD SOBA NOODLES
1 package soba noodles (8.8 ounces/250 grams)
2-4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted white or black sesame seeds
Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water until they are cool. Toss with the remaining ingredients.
Serves 6
We recently heard from Japanese friends who described a quick and easy summer dinner that they enjoyed:
Grilled fish with grated radish
Boiled edadame (green soybeans)
Cold noodles with fresh ginger
Most of us wouldn’t consider this “quick and easy.” Frozen pizza is closer to our idea.
But with fish fillets, vegetables and noodles, you can prepare a healthy meal in no time, Japanese or Western-style.
I keep several varieties of frozen fish fillets on hand, as well as a package or two of frozen vegetables. My selection of pasta includes Italian egg noodles, whole-wheat penne, rice noodles, udon and soba – Japanese buckwheat noodles.
Bake, broil, grill or sauté the fish fillets and serve them with a squeeze of lemon or a lively salsa. If edadame doesn’t appeal to you, try frozen green beans, broccoli or peas.
And do try these cold soba noodles dressed in a light soy and sesame dressing – very popular in Japan during the hot humid summer months.
COLD SOBA NOODLES
1 package soba noodles (8.8 ounces/250 grams)
2-4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted white or black sesame seeds
Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water until they are cool. Toss with the remaining ingredients.
Serves 6
I think I was getting my 3 ounces of fish with Japanese breakfasts. I really enjoyed them, particularly the ones I ate at a Japanese guest house. I'm planning to be back in Kyoto in November. Going to China first, then I plan to spend 2 months in Japan. Any chance I'll see you there?
ReplyDeleteRegards, Ruthe
Hi Ruthe,
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to hear from you. We cooked our fish for dinner while in Japan, and had a typical American breakfast of granola brought from home and fresh fruit.
Enjoy your upcoming travels. I'm afraid we won't be making it back to Japan so soon.
Note to all: We met Ruthe in Kyoto while hiking around a gorgeous Imperial Villa.
I realy love Japanese food but not always i can find the right Kosher products, i search the web and found this great website www.imofood.com that has great asian, japanese, thai dishes and you can buy kosher products and there taste is graet and kosher, i recommend imofood products,
ReplyDeletewww.imofood.com