How to prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

Preparing a Japanese breakfast

Japan may be far apart, but they share many similarities with the rest of the world. Culinary art is one of them. Breakfast, as an essential meal to start the day, therefore plays a key role.

With its unique combination of cereals, proteins, omegas and umami flavors, Japanese breakfast is healthy, tasty and provides maximum energy.

How to prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

Traditionally, Japanese breakfast includes a rice dish, protein, soup and a side dish. But you don't need to do much preparation to get a delicious, exotic morning meal.

What do the Japanese eat for breakfast?

The Japanese eat a wide variety of dishes for breakfast. The traditional breakfast consists of steamed rice, miso soup, protein, pickled gherkins and several side dishes.

This menu is more like lunch or dinner. Above all, it's an opportunity to take the time to enjoy a balanced breakfast. Indeed, the Japanese have always attached great importance to food and the notion of balance in life.

The traditional Japanese breakfast illustrates this concept of balance. You can observe a studied composition of colors, tastes, aromas and textures of the ingredients that make up this meal.

This breakfast is a reduced and simplified version of ichiju sansai, which literally means "one soup and three courses", a key concept in Nipponese gastronomy.

A typical Japanese breakfast menu

The dishes that make up breakfast in the Land of the Rising Sun are generally :

• Gohan: a bowl of steamed rice or porridge (named after San Goku's son in the popular manga Dragon Ball Z)
• Shiru: a bowl of miso soup.
• Okazu: the main course and 2 side dishes of vegetables, tofu or fish.
• Kouno mono: a small plate of pickled vegetables.

In concrete terms, an example of a Japanese breakfast would consist of :

• Steamed rice
• Miso soup
• Grilled fish
• Egg dish
• Side vegetables
• Seaweed
• Natto (fermented soybeans)

If you're looking for low-calorie breakfast ideas, here are low-calorie breakfast: the complete guide

How do you prepare a traditional Japanese breakfast at home?

You may be wondering how it's possible to prepare such a wide range of dishes on the breakfast table, especially when you're in a hurry. In reality, there are shortcuts that Japanese families use too.

A bowl of rice (Gohan)

How to prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

The most essential element of a Japanese breakfast is rice. Traditionally, steamed rice is served plain. As the main source of carbohydrates, rice - which is easy to prepare - offers a tasty, satiating complement to the accompanying dishes.

A bowl of miso soup

How to prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

Common ingredients in miso soup are tofu, wakame seaweed, mushrooms and green onions. You can vary the flavors and ingredients according to what you have on hand or what's available in season.

You'll find ready-to-use miso soups on the market, but you can also prepare them yourself and store them in the fridge for several days.

Grilled fish

How to prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

The main protein is fish, a key food in Japan, which as everyone knows is an island. Salted salmon and grilled mackerel are common choices. They are rich in healthy fats.

Eggs

How to prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

If you don't eat fish, eggs are an excellent protein choice. A favorite egg dish is Tamagoyaki (a rolled omelet), which is both sweet and savory. Tamagoyaki freezes very well, so you can prepare a large quantity in advance.

Vegetable side dishes

How to prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

Eating high-fiber foods helps you stay fuller longer and improves intestinal health and transit. So there's always a vegetable side dish to complement your breakfast meal.

With a sweet, tangy and sour note, pickled vegetables stimulate the appetite, refresh and enhance the overall flavors of the meal. They can be pickled cucumbers or cabbage.

Known as Tsukemono, this preservation method involves placing food in brine, vinegar, spices or shôyu (a soy sauce).

Natto

How to prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

Fermented soybeans called natto are a Japanese breakfast classic. Rich in protein, minerals, fiber, vitamin K2 and probiotics, natto is one of the best superfoods to eat first thing in the morning.

Green tea

How to prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

Japanese green tea is a key element of the country's culture, and the key drink for the morning meal. Rich in antioxidants and caffeine, with an iodized taste, it goes wonderfully well with fish dishes and rice. It helps to "cleanse" the palate between two dishes, the better to appreciate the subtleties of each.

The most common tea is bancha, less expensive and more robust for breakfast. But you can also opt for a Japanese sencha, a typical tea.

Typical Japanese breakfast dishes

Japanese fruit sandwich (Fruit sando)

How to prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

This is a sandwich made with fresh seasonal fruit. They are bathed in chilled whipped cream between two slices of bread pudding. These colorful strawberry, orange and kiwi sandwiches are perfect for breakfast and afternoon tea!

Japanese avocado toast

How to  prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

Crisp toast is topped with creamy avocado and grilled seaweed. You can add salmon roe for a light fishy flavor, and sesame seeds for a nutty taste.

Pancakes with red bean filling (Dorayaki)

How to prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

Two golden pancakes that resemble pancakes are filled with sweet red bean paste. This is a very popular dish in Japan, even today.

In this regard, I recommend the film "The Delights of Tokyo", a Japanese feature film - based on a book of the same name by Durian Sukegawa - which beautifully recounts the daily life of a traditional pastry shop owner in modern Japan who befriends an old lady who teaches him the ancient art of preparing dorayaki... and the importance of taking the time to do things right.

Okonomiyaki

How to prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savory pancake that is very popular in Japanese street food, particularly in Osaka. It's a savory pancake made with flour, eggs, cabbage and the meat of your choice. Some versions of this recipe are cooked with squid, shrimp, green onions or simply vegetables.

Miso porridge

How to prepare a Japanese breakfast at home

This tasty porridge is full of umami flavor and nutrients. This recipe is very easy. Simply cook the oats, stir in the miso paste, kale and seasonings. Add the toppings, and you're done!