6 simple and delicious Japanese dishes you can make at home

Spider Sushi Roll & Salmon and Avocado Sushi Roll

If you thought sushi rolls were best left to your favourite Japanese restaurant or take-away, think again! While sushi can look intimidating, the reality is that it’s surprisingly easy to make and is wonderfully versatile, as it can complement a number of unique fillings, such as creamed cheese and fresh salmon or crispy panko prawns and avocado.

If you’re a complete sushi novice, then the Yutaka Sushi Kit for Two is a great place to start as it contains everything you need including a rolling mat, a step-by-step guide, sushi rice and seasoning – all you have to do is add the filling! Watch chef Dai create some delectable salmon and avocado sushi rolls, along with a lip-smacking spider sushi roll with soft-shell crab in the video below. And, while these were whipped up at Christmastime, they’re best enjoyed at any time of year!

Prawn Katsu Curry

Discover the ultimate curry in a hurry with this tantalising prawn katsu recipe. Succulent king prawns are coated in crisp panko breadcrumbs and enjoyed with sushi rice and a flavoursome curry sauce that’s made simply using onions, water and the S&B Golden Curry Mix – the perfect short cut for giving your curry the authentic taste of Japan. In fact, these mixes are so popular that many Japanese cooks now choose them over homemade!

Hot and Cold Buckwheat Soba Noodles

Dishes don’t come more warming than a big bowl of soup, and this yuzu-infused number is sure to become your new favourite. Yuzu is a traditional Japanese citrus fruit, but, in this recipe, chef Dai uses a little of Ocado’s Yukata Yuzu Seasoning Sauce, enriching the broth with floral and citrussy notes, while Yukata Katsuobushi Bonito Flakes infuse it with a vibrant umami flavour that makes it truly special.

As well as being added to the soup, soba noodles are also served cold (known in Japan as zaru soba) with Morita Soba Tsuyu Straight (a soy sauce based dipping sauce), wasabi and finely sliced spring onions. Not only are these thin buckwheat noodles ridiculously tasty, but they’re also rather nutritious, too!

Omusoba - Yakisoba Noodles wrapped in an omelet blanket

This may be the first you’ve heard of this dish, but you’ll find omusoba on the menu of pretty much every family restaurant or izakaya (Japanese brasserie) in Japan. Classic yakisoba noodles, in this case Itsuki Yakisoba, are stir-fried with pork and encased in a silky omelette for sheer comfort food indulgence. In this version, chef Dai also adds creamy mayo into the mix! This one’s fast, simple and seriously delicious!

Miso: Baked Spicy Miso Chicken Wings & Fried Miso Aubergine

If you want to make your veggie side dishes a little more exciting, then you really can’t go wrong with nasu dengaku. This classic Japanese delicacy, which literally translates to “aubergine grilled over a fire”, is made by slicing an aubergine in half, scoring it and then brushing it with a sweet and savoury miso glaze. In this recipe, chef Dai pairs it with spicy miso chicken wings, which are given a lovely kick with some S&B Nanami Paste.

Sake: Japanese Baked Salmon, Asparagus and Mushrooms in Foil

Looking for a healthy midweek meal that requires minimum effort? Then this baked salmon recipe is perfect. Chef Dai uses Hinode Ryorishu Cooking Sake to enrich his salmon and asparagus in this delicious, easy to prepare dish that's baked in foil. Cooking sake is a wonderfully versatile ingredient, traditionally used to tenderise meat, add umami or to remove unwanted flavour and odour. Once wrapped and baked in the foil, the flavour of the sake fuses perfectly with the fish and vegetables. The dish is served accompanied by Ponzu sauce made with Kikkoman Soy Sauce All-Purpose, while brown rice provides a great source of fibre!