Free eBook! 5‑Day Meal Plan→
21 Simple Japanese Vegetable Dishes To Make at Home
These delicious Japanese vegetable dishes are easy to make at home! From traditional recipes to classic bento box sides and versatile everyday dishes, this collection offers a variety of tasty options. Perfect for adding a flavor of Japan to your table!
This roundup is divided into three sections by cooking method and type, making it easy to find the perfect recipe for you: Salads & Cold Dishes (1–8), Pickled Dishes (9–12), and Fried & Stir-Fried Dishes (13–21). Let’s dive in!
1. Goma-ae (Japanese Sesame Salad)
Goma-ae is a classic Japanese side dish and bento box favorite, known for its sweet sesame flavor. While spinach is the most popular ingredient, this recipe includes green beans, broccoli, and asparagus for variety!
2. Daikon Salad with Sesame Dressing
This crisp and refreshing daikon salad is a simple yet flavorful side dish. The crunchy, juicy raw daikon pairs perfectly with a creamy sesame dressing.
3. Sunomono Salad (Japanese Cucumber Salad)
Similarly, sunomono cucumber salad is a light dish seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce. It is especially popular during the hot summer months, and its tangy flavor and crisp texture make it a perfect complement to any meal.
4. Easy Napa Cabbage Slaw
This easy and quick Japanese-style napa cabbage slaw is our family favorite! Crunchy napa cabbage is lightly seasoned with mayonnaise, vinegar, and salt for a simple yet flavorful side dish.
5. Wakame Salad (Japanese Seaweed Salad)
This popular wakame salad features a delightful sesame flavor with a hint of soy sauce. With its delicate texture and mild taste, it’s sure to be a favorite!
6. Kabocha Salad with Boiled Egg
This creamy mashed kabocha salad with boiled egg combines sweet kabocha squash with rich mayonnaise for a flavorful, satisfying dish. It’s easy to make and perfect as a side or a delicious sandwich filling!
7. Cabbage Salad with Garlic and Sesame
If you love refreshing, crunchy sides, this cabbage salad is a must-try! With savory garlic and sesame flavors, it’s so delicious you’ll want to make it again and again!
8. Mashed Japanese Sweet Potato
If you love Japanese sweet potatoes, you’ll enjoy this simple mashed sweet potato! With its naturally rich flavor, minimal seasoning is needed to create a delicious, creamy mash.
9. Pickled Daikon Radish
This pickled daikon radish is a staple at our family dinners! With its crunchy texture and perfectly balanced sweet and sour flavor, it’s sure to be a favorite!
10. Pickled Cucumbers with Shio Kombu
Pickled cucumbers is a simple dish that requires only cucumbers and shio kombu (seasoned kombu seaweed). This delightful side dish is a refreshing accompaniment, adding a burst of flavor to your meal!
11. Pickled Napa Cabbage with Shio Kombu
Love simple Japanese pickles? This pickled napa cabbage with shio kombu is crunchy, packed with umami, and goes with just about any meal.
12. Pickled Eggplant
This pickled eggplant is an easy and delicious way to enjoy Japanese pickles, with a savory sesame and soy sauce flavor. In just 15 minutes, you’ll have a refreshing vegetable side dish ready to enjoy!
13. Kinpira Gobo (Burdock Stir Fry)
Kinpira gobo is a classic bento side dish with stir-fried burdock root and carrots seasoned with mirin and soy sauce. It’s a crunchy, savory addition to any meal!
14. Kinpira Renkon (Lotus Root Stir Fry)
If you’re looking for a delicious lotus root recipe, try this kinpira renkon! It’s made the same way as kinpira gobo, but the lotus root adds an extra crunchy texture to the dish.
15. Daikon Skin Stir Fry
This daikon skin stir fry is a delicious dish that makes the most of the crispy texture of daikon skin. It comes together quickly with shio kombu for a simple, savory side dish!
16. Stir-fried Cabbage with Butter and Soy Sauce
Are you looking for a quick and easy cabbage recipe? Try our stir-fried cabbage! Ordinary cabbage becomes a delicious side dish with just butter and soy sauce!
17. Stir-fried Eggplant With Miso Paste
Try this delicious stir-fried eggplant with miso paste. You will love the tender eggplant, delicate tofu, and rich miso umami in every bite!
18. Eggplant Teriyaki Recipe
If you enjoy Japanese teriyaki, you’ve got to try this eggplant teriyaki! The homemade sauce perfectly balances sweetness and saltiness that pairs beautifully with tender, savory eggplant.
19. Sautéed Shiitake Mushrooms
This simple sautéed shiitake mushroom dish is a flavorful side dish made with just butter and soy sauce. It has only three ingredients, yet it is so delicious!
20. Okra Fries with Soy Sauce Flavor
Crispy, golden okra fries with a savory soy sauce twist! A quick, satisfying snack packed with flavor and crunch.
21. Fried Daikon Radish
This fried daikon is marinated in soy sauce and garlic and fried until perfectly crispy. It’s golden and crunchy on the outside and soft and juicy inside—you won’t be able to resist!
Traditional Japanese Meal
When dining at Japanese restaurants, you’ll notice that the meal is served with different dishes for each part, such as the main dish, white rice, miso soup, and various side dishes. Japanese side dishes are essential in creating a balanced and harmonious meal, offering a variety of options like pickled vegetables (tsukemono), tofu dishes, steamed veggies, salads, and more.
Want More Plant-Based Ideas?
Download 10 Vegetarian Recipes
More Japanese Vegetable Recipes You Will Love
Leave a Rating!
I hope you enjoy these vegetable dishes! If you try it, don’t forget to leave a rating to share your thoughts—I love hearing from you!
Juri Austin
Hi! I’m Juri, founder of Chef JA Cooks and the creator and photographer of this site. I’m here to guide you in authentic yet easy-to-follow Japanese recipes! Let’s explore the world of Japanese cuisine together!