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Give Me Umami » Guides

Japanese Cooking Basics

Want to cook Japanese food at home but don’t know where to start? This section is packed with helpful guides that cover the building blocks of Japanese cooking. From understanding essential pantry ingredients like miso, mirin, and soy sauce to learning how to make dashi or cook perfect Japanese rice, these beginner-friendly resources will help you feel more confident in the kitchen. Whether you're just getting started or want to brush up on fundamentals, these tutorials will guide you step-by-step.

  • Japanese Dashi 101: Uses, Types, Substitutes, and More
  • Miso 101: A Guide to Types, Uses, Storage, and More
  • A Guide to Japanese Ingredient Substitutions
  • Japanese Soy Sauce 101: What It Is, Types, Uses, and More
  • Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Cooking
  • What is Washoku? A Guide to Traditional Japanese Cuisine
  • 8 Essential Japanese Pantry Staples for Beginners
  • Mirin 101: A Guide to Types, Uses, Substitutes, and More
  • Sake 101: A Guide to Uses, Storage, Substitutes, and More

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Kurumi! I share practical and traditional Japanese recipes and tips to incorporate Japanese cooking into daily lives.

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Popular

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    Katsuo Dashi (Easy Bonito Dashi Recipe with Katsuobushi)
  • cold brew Iriko dashi on the left and regular dashi on the right.
    Niboshi Dashi (Authentic Iriko Anchovy Dashi Broth)
  • Japanese beef curry with rice.
    Japanese Beef Curry (Simple Ingredients & Extra Savory)

Latest

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    Easy Rice Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
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    Japanese Tomato Salad with Cucumber & Bonito Flakes
  • Japanese tofu and egg donburi rice bowl.
    Tofu & Egg Donburi (Quick Microwave Japanese Breakfast Bowl)
  • Omusoba, Japanese stir fry noodles (yakisoba) wrapped in omelet.
    Omusoba (Authentic Japanese Omelet-Wrapped Yakisoba)

FREE Dashi Cheat Sheet

Ultimate guide to dashi, dashi cheat sheet.

Japanese Home Cooking Starter Guide

Japanese home cooking starter guide sign-up preview image.

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