Hellobee

Japanese food is definitely a favorite in the Dolphin household and the kids will happily eat everything on this list. Here are fifteen of our favorite Japanese recipes and almost all of them are easy, weeknight meals that can be made in 35 minutes or less. We love serving these meals with some simple Japanese side dishes like vegetables sauteed in a little bit of broth or pickled vegetables such as daikon and cucumber or seaweed salad.

Oyakodon – Hands down one of the Dolphin family’s favorite meals. It traditionally uses chicken and egg (it does, after all, mean “parent and child”), but I’ve also subbed in tofu for a vegetarian option.

Chirashi – I don’t use a recipe and just end up picking up whatever is fresh at the Asian market, but sushi night is definitely Lion’s favorite night! The fastest way to get him from daycare and into the car is to tell him we’re having sushi. I usually just slice everything, make some sushi rice, and let everyone pick what they want. Our favorites include salmon, tuna, tamagoyaki, octopus and uni.

Tamgoyaki – This is Lion’s favorite part of sushi night and he’s happy just to have the egg block. It is great served cold and often makes its way into the kids’ lunchboxes.

Miso soup – There are so many recipes and variations on miso soup, but here’s a super easy recipe. This is a definite favorite of Panda’s and whenever I make myself a bowl, he will run over and start clamoring until he ends up in my lap, eating the majority of it.

Chicken karaage – Who can say no to Japanese style chicken nuggets?

Omurice – Rice wrapped in an omelet. Japanese comfort food at its best.

Tonkatsu – We like both the traditional pork version as well as the chicken version. It’s super easy and you really don’t need a recipe. You just use a dry (flour), wet (egg), dry (panko) breading and fry it.

Korokke – This is a Japanese croquette made with meat and potato. Lion loves helping to mix all the ingredients together and mispronounces it in the cutest way (“Papa! I make ko-ro-te!”)

Saba shioyaki – Salted mackerel was always my mom’s favorite dish whenever we went to a Japanese restaurant. It is very salty when made the traditional way, though if you’re making it at home, you do have some control over it. Because of the high salt level, though, you may not want to give it to young children. Also, try to get atka mackerel if you’re worried about mercury levels; atka mackerel is considered safe.

Tempura – Another fried dish, so not the healthiest thing, but the kids will gobble it up. Fish, broccoli, green beans and sweet potato are their favorites, though we also do squash, zucchini, eggplant and pumpkin.

Okayu – Also known as congee, jook, or a number of other names. It seems like most asian cultures have their own version of rice porridge and there are countless recipes out there. This is one very basic recipe, but I usually just throw rice and water into a slow cooker along with some aromatics like ginger and then each person gets to add his or her favorite toppings like egg, seaweed, crispy shallots and sesame.

Okonomiyaki – Cabbage savory pancake = deliciousness.

Chawanmushi – Growing up, I was more accustomed to the sweet egg custards we would get whenever we had dim sum. The first time I had this Japanese savory egg custard, it blew my mind. This is another big comfort type food for me. I tend to use an extra ramekin or two to reduce the overall cooking time.

Kakuni – I love Mrs. Heels version of this dish which uses a pressure cooker. I’ve also tried setting it for a bit shorter of a time and not doing the quick release if I want it to cook while I’m working.

Gyoza – The only one on the list that’s a decidedly weekend meal because of its time consuming nature. That said, it is delicious and a huge hit with the kids. I always make a huge batch so there’s plenty leftover to freeze or have as leftovers later in the week.