Japanese Cookbook for Beginners: Classic and Modern Recipes Made Easy

As someone who has made many Japanese dishes at home, and who has also partaken in a friend's sumptuous Japanese New Year's spreads, I can tell you that many Japanese dishes involve some seriously intense preparation. I rarely make them at home because of that.But I adore the flavors of Japanese foods and crave them a lot more often than going out to Japanese restaurants (or semi-annual New Year's dinners!) allows, so I was really interested in trying this book when it came to my attention. I have to say that it has more than delivered.Everything I've tried has had great taste without the huge investment that more traditional recipes require. Sometimes it doesn't take much and certainly not nearly as much as I had thought to get those amazing flavors on the table!Flavors really are the thing and I want to thank the author for bringing those delicious tastes - attainable with so much ease, thanks to her - back into my own kitchen.

The beginning of the book, where everything in the book is explained was fantastic. I love Japanese food, but didn’t know enough about it to try to make it. Now things make sense. It doesn’t seem so daunting.

The cookbook is a really great introduction to skills, techniques, and flavors that are foundational for at-home Japanese cooking - making rice, using sauces and marinades to enhance flavor, so many ways to use tofu and miso! The introductory chapter includes a great list of ingredients and equipment to keep on hand, and provides decent substitution options. Several dishes are recreations of some childhood favorites or Americanized spins from her family, which can be a comfortable entry point if Japanese cuisine is new to you. I wish there were a few more Japanese culinary skills on display here, but those may not be as 'beginner' friendly so you will have to graduate to another cookbook for them. I keep coming back to many of these recipes and I feel really comfortable going to many of them for a weeknight meal. If you're not sure if Japanese cooking is something you will commit to, this was a great starting point.

I *love* this book SO much. It's a quite seeming cookbook - no flashy pictures, not a huge book. But I use this regularly for weeknight family cooking because the recipes are so easy, so quick, and so delicious. It's really opened my kids' palates up to the delicious world of Japanese cooking. I highlight recommend this for new cooks and advanced cooks alike.

great recipes, very fun to learn.

This cookbook is easy to work with. Many recipes bring back memories.

So very glad I came across and bought this book. Many books that I've sampled so far were quite labor intensive but great if you dedicate the time to make their meals. This book will give you simple recipes that will land you a meal in a short amount of time, for the most part. So far so good, food is tasty and healthy compared to what I usually eat. I wanted some Japanese home cooking that doesn't make me work like a mad woman, I've got enough on my plate so to speak.I know dashi broths are important and one of the base ingredients in Japanese cooking but I cheat and use HonDashi to save time... It's not the same but it'll do when pressed for time.This book will save you time, save your sanity and feed your stomach and soul. Cheers!

The steps are simple but I have to google the names of the dishes to see what they actually look like (which is a bummer)

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!perfect for beginners or otherwise - got for my 17 year old brother but my mom says she will be using it as well.100 percent would recommend. I was iffy and kind of worried after reading some of the reviews but I am so glad I ended up getting It.

Looking forward to using book as was a Christmas present

I was expecting more photos

Loved this book. Easy delicious recipes and ingredients easy to find.CheersColleen

It was a xmas gift for my son. We both liked the simplicity of the recipes . It was perfect for beginners. Do wish there had been more photos of the finished dishes.