What can I cook in Japan that's simple?

Question

I'm studying abroad in Japan (from America) and am having one huge problem: my diet! Here's what I need help with:

-something simple (limited kitchen supplies, zero experience)
-something cheap (I have little to spend after university expenses and sightseeing)
-something healthy (energy to study)

Do you know any recipes or have any ideas? I don't mind monotony or slightly bland dishes, but I'm squeamish around raw meat. Japanese supermarkets are quite different from those in America so I don't even know what ingredients are good to buy. Please, help out a starving college student!

Answer 1

well i actually live in japan too, and curry and rice is pretty good for me. there should be a box in the local supermarket that says カレー　on it and hopefully theres a picture of the product too. so you can get that, and in my local supermarket, they also sell microwavable rice (basically you just peel the lid up until the line where it tells you to stop and then microwave it for a certain amount of time. this depends on the type of microwave you have. 500W, 600W, 700W.....) and they do sell sausages, and all you do is fry them in a frying pan, so that's pretty simple, and you can have scrambled eggs or something with that. and even better, slice some cucumbers, grate some cabbage, put a few of those small tomatoes on top and put some mayonnaise or dressing on it, then you'll have a salad too! that should be healthy! or when you really don't have time, just buy a bento (弁当), which by the way, means lunchbox. they don't all just have fatty foods, some have salmon (cooked! not raw!!!), rice and vegetables in them too.

alternatively, you can get tofu (とうふ) and put some soysauce on it. and there are plenty of ready meals, and a few a week wouldn't hurt! :D

Answer 2

The key to Japanese cooking is using the right ingredients. It is best to use Japanese ingredients. They can be made in Singapore or Hong Kong but Japanese style is best or the flavours will not be quite right. The following are the essential pantry ingredients needed to make Japanese food: 1. Dashi (stock) 2. Miso 3. Seaweed 4. Mirin 5. Rice Vinegar 6. Wasabi 7. Soy Sauce Some easy to cook Japanese recipes are tempura, miso soup, yakitori chicken, karaage and niku jyaga.

Answer 3

Go down to the local market, you'll find the freshest produce and meat there.



Try a fresh piece of fish and get yourself some lemon grass and cilantro to toss with the fish when you pan sear it.



Then get yourself some nice red tomatoes, some cucumber, drizzle a little bit of olive oil, salt and pepper and voila, healthy, simple, tasty meal in Japan :o)

Answer 4

Try fried tofu & pork dish.

Just deep fry both pork and tofu(cut it into stips so it can easily cooked) then put paper towels to sbsorb excess oil, cut to bite size if you want. Make a dipping by combining soy sauce and vinegar(according to taste), chopped onion and chilli(add if u want it a lil spicy), pepper(optional), sugar(if u want it to be a little sweet). Eat with boiled rice or fried rice.

Answer 5

Chips are nice. If you can't be bothered cooking, cheese puffs and a pot noodle will be fine, even better if they sell cup of soups in Japan.

Answer 6

well a relatively cheap meal that you wouldn't even have to cook but rather buy is a bento... just buy one of those and you're set

Answer 7

if your not a big cooker just grab some rice and cook it up :)