Japan is a country with a rich and famous cuisine in the world with many dishes such as Sushi, Tempura, Takoyaki and Ramen. To make such delicious traditional dishes, it is impossible not to mention a few Special spice of the Japanese people.
In today's article we will learn about 5 common Japanese spices.
Japanese soy sauce (shouyu)
The most famous spice originating from Japan that is sold in more than 100 countries and regions is Shouyu. There are many different types of Shouyu, but the most common type that Japanese people often use is the dark-colored Shouyu sold in supermarkets.
Shouyu appears in most Japanese dishes. For example, making dipping sauce when eating Sushi, making broth to eat with Ramen, making broth to cook stews and preparing barbecue dipping sauce...etc.
In addition to the pure Japanese dishes above, Shouyu is also used in combination with other European and Asian dishes. How to use Shouyu is very diverse and depends on the chef's taste and preferences.
Shouyu in Japan is similar to fish sauce in Vietnam. This is a universal spice and is almost indispensable in every Japanese meal. You can buy Shouyu soy sauce at all supermarkets and convenience stores.
Miso
Miso is also one of the popular spices in Japan and is known to many international friends. Miso is made by adding yeast and salt to a mixture of grains such as wheat, rice and beans.
This is an indispensable spice in Misoshiru, a soup that appears in most Japanese meals. You can see this Misoshiru soup appearing in quick meals at popular restaurant chains such as Sukiya, Matsuya, Yoshinoya...
Miso is very good for health with many uses such as: beautifying the skin, increasing immunity and supporting the digestive system.
Depending on the climate and soil of each region, the fermentation method will be different, so there will be many different types of Miso. The way to prepare dishes using Miso is very diverse, from pure Japanese dishes to European and Asian dishes, with the Japanese skillfully adjusting the flavor.
Miso is often sold at the spice counter in supermarkets.
Mirin
Mirin is a wine-type seasoning widely used in Japanese cuisine. This spice is characterized by 14% alcohol content and high sugar content.
Mirin is often used in combination with other spices to make dipping sauces for noodle dishes such as Udon, Soba, and stews. In addition, it is also used with other spices to make marinade for dishes such as grilled chicken, fried meat... It has a good effect in eliminating the fishy smell of meat and fish and adding sweetness. for food.
There are many different types of Mirin sold in supermarkets and not all of them have the same ingredients. Before buying, you should carefully review and choose the right type you need.
If in Vietnam you want to make Mirin to use, you can mix spices with sugar ingredients such as honey or sugar into the wine.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a familiar spice in any country in the world and Japan is no exception. In Japan, there are two popular types of vinegar: rice vinegar made from rice and cereal vinegar made from barley.
Rice vinegar is a type of vinegar widely used to make Sushi, it has the effect of enhancing the flavor of rice. In addition, it is also used a lot in other dishes such as stews, stir-fries, salads...
Japanese vinegar does not have a strong smell and is not as sour as Vietnamese vinegar. You can easily buy vinegar at spice counters at supermarkets or convenience stores.
Alcohol
Japanese wine is made from rice and is not only used for drinking but it is also commonly used as a spice in cooking. Some typical dishes that use wine include clams steamed with wine and stews used to coat dried fish when grilling.
Using wine combined with salt in cooking will enhance the flavor of food, and when used to marinate meat and fish, it will eliminate the fishy smell. This is a spice that can be combined with all types of food and create many unique dishes. Try using wine to cook to see if the dish is more attractive.
In supermarkets, there is a separate type of wine sold specifically for cooking and placed with other spices. However, this type of cooking wine has added salt and adjusted sweetness, so it will not have the same effect as regular wine. Depending on your needs, buy the right type of wine.
Wine will usually be sold at the alcoholic beverage counter. Among them will be small bottles of wine suitable for several cooking sessions. You can buy it and use it to cook.
Conclude
Above are 5 popular spices widely used in daily Japanese meals. Each spice has its own characteristics and when combining them we can create many unique dishes.
If you live in Japan, in addition to using traditional Vietnamese spices such as fish sauce, the 5 spices above are also perfect choices for your family meals.
Hope you create many wonderful dishes with the 5 spices I introduced to you in this article.
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