The right side dishes can transform a meal from something completely average to utterly delicious. In traditional Japanese cuisine, side dishes play an extremely important role, so it’s no surprise that there are countless Japanese side dish options, and that they are wide in variety and delicious in taste. You won’t find any limp side salads or overboiled vegetables here.
This list includes some dishes you can enjoy on their on, some that are great in combination with a main dish, and some that keep well, so you can add any leftovers to a packed lunch or Bento box (you can read about the difference between a lunch box and a bento box here).
20 Easy Japanese Side Dishes
1. Simmered Kabocha Squash (Japanese Pumpkin) by Just One Cookbook
This simmered Japanese Pumpkin dish has a delectable texture and is seriously addictive. I always surprise myself by just how much I can eat of it! It is surprisingly easy to assemble, and is the first dish I cooked when I moved to Japan, using this exact recipe. Continue reading “20 Easy Japanese Side Dishes”