Foods in Japan

Japanese foods are a mixture of traditional and Western cuisine. This is true in the types of foods used to make Japanese dishes and in the techniques used to cook them. Foods in Japan are typically seasonal and presented artfully to diners.

History

During the times of ancient Japan--prior to the 9th century--Japanese food consisted of many meats, along with vegetables and rice. Horses and monkey meat were eaten, along with beef and fish and chicken. As new rulers came into play over time, the cuisine changed to reflect the Buddhist philosophies that came into power. This meant that red meats were frowned upon, though fish was eaten in abundance. At the end of the 12th century, foods in Japan went two ways. The nobility would eat lavish meals, while the peasants and samurai had simple, yet hearty, meals. Today, Japanese food consists of staple foods, such as rice and noodles that were part of traditional dishes. Fish, light portions or red meat, vegetables and tofu are all also used.

Features

There are three staple foods in Japan: rice, noodles and bread. Rice and noodles are traditional Japanese foods, but bread was introduced toward the end of the 19th century. These dishes are then paired with vegetables and/or meat or fish. They can be prepared a number of ways and either hot or cold. These are usually followed by a desert, which could be traditional, western, or a style of sweet bread, which has become popular over the past 100 years.

Types

While the ingredients in Japanese foods are usually the same, the type of cooking that is done changes from meal to meal. There are deep-fried dishes that use a tempura batter, stir-fried dishes that are typically heavy on vegetables and a number of stews and soups. Sushi,which is raw fish or vegetables rolled with rice and seaweed and served cold, is also popular. Hot sushi or cooked fish sushi was created thanks to Western cooking influences.

Benefits

Japanese food is among the healthiest in the world. healthiest. Tempura batter, for example, is less oily than breading used in other cooking styles. Japanese food also uses quite a bit of vegetables and tofu, which are very healthy, especially considering the amount of greens eaten. When meat is used, it is in small amounts.

Warning

While foods in Japan are typically very healthy, there is some concern as to the amount of sodium applied. One of the biggest culprits in this sodium problem is soy sauce. It is common in soups, stews and stir fries.