18 Best Japanese Side Dishes With Easy Recipes

Discover a collection of the 18 best Japanese side dishes, each with an easy recipe. Try them out today and savor the delicious flavors of Japan at your table!

I'm going to show you 18 delicious Japanese side dishes that you can make at home! From traditional favorites to my personal recommendations, this collection offers a variety of dishes to choose from. Plus, they are all easy to prepare, so go ahead and give them a try!

This recipe is for you if:
• You love Japanese food.
• You are looking for Japanese side dishes.
• You want to know how to prepare Japanese side dishes.

Let's get started!

Jump to:

• Traditional Japanese Meal
• 18 Delicious Japanese Side Dishes
• 1. Sunomono Salad (Japanese Cucumber Salad)
• 2. Goma-ae Recipe 4 Ways (Japanese Sesame Salad)
• 3. Kinpira Gobo (Japanese Burdock Stir Fry)
• 4. Simmered Kabocha (Kabocha Nimono)
• 5. Hijiki Seaweed Salad
• 6. Easy Japanese Pickled Daikon Radish Recipe
• 7. Quick Japanese Pickled Cucumbers
• 8. Japanese Pickled Napa Cabbage
• 9. Japanese Daikon Salad with Sesame Dressing
• 10. Wakame Salad (Japanese Seaweed Salad)
• 11. Sauteed Shiitake Mushrooms
• 12. Easy Vegan Eggplant Teriyaki Recipe
• 13. Hiyayakko (Cold Tofu Recipe)
• 14. Tofu Misozuke (Miso Tofu Cheese)
• 15. Tofu Salad with Seaweed
• 16. Teriyaki Tofu with Mushrooms
• 17. Best Tamagoyaki (Japanese Rolled Omelet)
• 18. Natto Omelet
• Looking for more?
• Thanks For Stopping By!
• More Recipes You Might Like
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• 18 Best Japanese Side Dishes With Easy Recipes
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Traditional Japanese Meal

When you visit Japanese restaurants, you'll notice that the meal is served with each part in separate dishes, just like in the image above. The main dish is typically accompanied by white rice, miso soup, and a selection of side dishes.

Japanese side dishes are an important part of a traditional Japanese meal, adding balance and harmony to the overall flavors. These dishes can include a wide variety of options, such as pickled vegetables (tsukemono), tofu dishes, steamed vegetables, salads, and more.

18 Delicious Japanese Side Dishes

Here is the collection of 18 delicious Japanese side dishes, and each dish comes with easy recipes using simple ingredients. Enjoy a variety of light and flavorful options, highlighting vegetables, tofu, and eggs!

Japanese Vegetable Side Dishes

1. Sunomono Salad (Japanese Cucumber Salad)
2. Goma-ae Recipe 4 Ways (Japanese Sesame Salad)
3. Kinpira Gobo (Japanese Burdock Stir-fry)
4. Simmered Kabocha
5. Hijiki Seaweed Salad
6. Japanese Pickled Daikon Radish Recipe
7. Quick Japanese Pickled Cucumbers
8. Japanese Pickled Napa Cabbage
9. Japanese Daikon Salad With Sesame Dressing
10. Wakame Salad (Japanese Seaweed Salad)
11. Sauteed Shiitake Mushrooms
12. Easy Vegan Eggplant Teriyaki Recipe

Japanese Tofu and Egg Side Dishes

13. Hiyayakko (Cold Tofu Recipe)
14. Tofu Misozuke (Miso Tofu Cheese)
15. Tofu Salad With Seaweed
16. Teriyaki Tofu With Mushrooms
17. Best Tamagoyaki (Japanese Rolled Omelet)
18. Natto Omelet

1. Sunomono Salad (Japanese Cucumber Salad)

This refreshing cucumber salad, seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce, is a popular side dish, particularly enjoyed during the hot summer months. Its invigorating flavor and crisp texture make it a perfect accompaniment to any meal.

2. Goma-ae Recipe 4 Ways (Japanese Sesame Salad)

Goma ae is a classic and popular dish in Japanese cuisine, known for its delightful flavor derived from ground sesame seeds.

Although spinach goma ae, also known as Japanese spinach salad, is the most popular version, goma ae can be made with different kinds of vegetables. This recipe includes - spinach, green beans, broccoli, and asparagus - to give you a variety of options to try out!

3. Kinpira Gobo (Japanese Burdock Stir Fry)

Kinpira gobo is a simple side dish made by stir-frying burdock roots and carrots seasoned with mirin and soy sauce.

With its satisfying crunch and delicious flavor, Kinpira gobo is a healthy and satisfying addition to any meal!

4. Simmered Kabocha (Kabocha Nimono)

Simmered kabocha is a traditional Japanese dish that offers a sweet and delicious flavor.

If you're a fan of Japanese kabocha squash, I have more kabocha squash recipes for you to explore!

5. Hijiki Seaweed Salad

This hijiki seaweed salad is an easy side dish and perfect for anyone looking to explore Japan's flavors while enjoying this nutritious ingredient's many health benefits.

6. Easy Japanese Pickled Daikon Radish Recipe

Pickled daikon is a must-have for our family dinner, offering a refreshing taste that serves as an excellent palate cleanser after any meal.

If you appreciate the flavors of Japanese daikon radish, I have more daikon radish recipes for you to explore!

7. Quick Japanese Pickled Cucumbers

Japanese pickled cucumber is a simple dish that requires only cucumbers and shio kombu (flavorful kombu seaweed). This delightful side dish is a refreshing accompaniment, adding a burst of flavor to your meal!

8. Japanese Pickled Napa Cabbage

Another simple Japanese pickle dish! This napa cabbage pickle is a great side dish, offering a delightful crunch and umami flavor that complements a variety of meals.

9. Japanese Daikon Salad with Sesame Dressing

This tasty and easy daikon salad is a great option, with crunchy and juicy raw daikon paired with a creamy sesame dressing.

10. Wakame Salad (Japanese Seaweed Salad)

Wakame seaweed is a common ingredient in Japanese cooking. This popular salad, which you may have already tasted at your favorite Japanese restaurants, boasts a delicate texture and mild flavor that will surely be a hit.

11. Sauteed Shiitake Mushrooms

This simple sautéed mushroom recipe can be served as a delightful side dish or used as a topping for rice or noodles. It's a versatile addition to any meal and provides a fantastic opportunity to savor the delicious flavor of shiitake mushrooms!

12. Easy Vegan Eggplant Teriyaki Recipe

The homemade teriyaki sauce offers a delectable blend of sweetness and saltiness that complements eggplant perfectly!

13. Hiyayakko (Cold Tofu Recipe)

If you're looking for a quick and light dish, there's nothing quite like a refreshing Hiyayakko. All you need is to prepare chilled tofu and topped with your choice of ingredients. Try this simple recipe ready in 5 minutes!

14. Tofu Misozuke (Miso Tofu Cheese)

Enjoy the delightful flavor of this tofu misozuke as an appetizing start to your meal. The tofu is marinated with miso paste, making it a creamy texture and deliciously salty taste that will leave you craving more!

15. Tofu Salad with Seaweed

With its delicious homemade ginger dressing and nutritious ingredients, this tofu salad is ideal for satisfying your cravings while keeping you feeling great!

16. Teriyaki Tofu with Mushrooms

If you're a fan of teriyaki tofu and mushrooms, you're sure to love this recipe! The combination of the savory and sweet teriyaki sauce coating the crispy tofu and stir-fried mushrooms is a perfect match.

17. Best Tamagoyaki (Japanese Rolled Omelet)

Tamagoyaki, a beloved Japanese home-cooking dish, is a soft and fluffy rolled omelet that is perfect for breakfast or lunch. While this is a plain tamagoyaki recipe, you have the option to add various fillings, such as nori tamagoyaki, tuan and scallions tamagoyaki, and tofu and hijiki tamagoyaki.

18. Natto Omelet

If you enjoy eating natto, you can try it with eggs. Mixing natto with eggs will make it fluffier and more fun to eat. If you have never heard of natto, see "What is Natto?", "How to eat natto" for more details.

Looking for more?

If you're looking for more variations, check out these collections of healthy and simple Japanese side dishes below!

• Side Dishes
• Vegetable Dishes
• Tofu Dishes
• Egg Dishes

Thanks For Stopping By!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog♡. If you've tried this recipe (or any other recipe on the blog), please give it a star rating below!

Also, feel free to leave comments if you have any questions. I love hearing from you!

Chef JA Cooks is a Japanese food blog that shares simple and healthy Japanese home cooking recipes, including vegan and vegetarian. From traditional Japanese recipes to modern recipes with step-by-step instructions.

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