Craving a culinary adventure? Look no further than the world of Japanese cuisine!
While many associate Japan with rice and savory soups, their salads are an unsung treasure.
I’ve gathered 17 recipes that show off the diversity of Japanese flavors.
1. Japanese Glass Noodle Salad
Also known as harusame, this mainstay salad is popular in Japan.
Chewy glass noodles combine with crunchy vegetables and succulent bits of ham in this recipe.
The tasty sesame soy vinaigrette infuses a ton of flavor into this adaptable appetizer.
Though this recipe features ham, cucumbers, and carrots, it can easily be altered.
2. Green Bean Gomaae
This four-ingredient recipe will become a busy cook’s favorite dish. Tossing savory sesame sauce with blanched green beans is all it takes.
It only needs 20 minutes for preparation and will disappear just as fast.
3. Tomato Myoga Salad
If you love tomatoes, prepare to obsess over this incredibly delicious, refreshing recipe. You’ll want to make this recipe in the summer, when the tomatoes you use are at their best.
Sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame seeds compose this basic vinaigrette. This yummy dish takes very little preparation and is completely stress-free.
4. Soba Noodle Salad
These soba noodles are incredibly thin buckwheat noodles that feature a subdued nutty taste. This recipe uses these noodles to create a light and piquant salad.
Fresh ginger root, lime zest, and maple syrup form this recipe’s delicious sauce. Don’t be afraid to put your own spin on the recipe, such as adding tofu or peanut butter.
5. Japanese Potato Salad
Though not typically tied to Japanese food, potato salad has been a culinary fixture in the country for more than a century.
Mustard, potato, and bacon are the foundation of this classic recipe, but some unexpected ingredients will surprise you.
Hard-boiled eggs, corn, cucumber, ham, and carrots contribute to this side dish’s great nutrition and delicious flavors.
This fulfilling dish can also be served as a main course.
6. Daikon Salad
Plenty of crunch is present in this simple and revitalizing recipe. This salad incorporates Daikon, a subtle, mild Japanese white radish.
This recipe is often added to meals because of its firm texture and understated flavor profile. Here, a tangy plum vinaigrette dresses shredded daikon and mustard greens.
7. Japanese Okra Salad
Many Japanese meals contain okra, and this recipe takes full advantage of the overlooked vegetable. The recipe dresses boiled, sliced okra with smoky-sweet soy sauce.
You’ll be amazed by how much flavor is contained in this effortless recipe.
8. Japanese Spinach Salad
With large, dark leaves, spinach boasts an incredible amount of nutrition. It’s an outstanding salad base because it’s packed with vitamin C, folate, and iron.
The spinach is blanched until it’s nice and soft before being coated in a nutty sesame dressing. For additional crispiness, add roasted sesame seeds.
9. Japanese Seaweed Salad
Delicious and distinct, the tastes of chewy, silky, and salty seaweed salad are remarkable. Recreate this restaurant favorite at home with this super simple recipe.
To make this, just mix together sesame oil, soy sauce, pre-soaked seaweed, and red pepper. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve cold for a wonderful appetizer.
10. Avocado Salad with Ponzu Dressing
This summer salad is extraordinarily yummy, vegan, and nutritious. This recipe calls for a lot of creamy avocado slices along with a scattering of sprouts or leafy microgreens.
You’ll also be obsessed with the tangy ponzu sauce. You should make more of this sauce so you can bring its zesty flavor to any dish.
11. Kani Salad
Japanese cuisine includes its own form of crab salad known as kani. The recipe combines shredded crab and cucumber and coats them with a creamy, spicy mayo.
This straightforward dish with just three ingredients delivers a surprisingly robust flavor.
12. Edamame Salad
You won’t need to travel to the deli anytime edamame cravings surface. You can create your own restaurant-caliber recipe with this incredibly simple DIY recipe.
Every bite of this salad bursts with healthy vegetables, including cucumbers, edamame, red bell pepper, and cilantro, all drizzled with a sesame vinaigrette.
13. Japanese Cucumber Salad
This recipe provides a piquant and crispy treatment for crunchy cucumbers. For anybody wanting a tangy snack that won’t bog them down, this nutritious and reviving salad hits the spot.
Be sure to prepare it immediately before serving to prevent the dreaded Soggy Cucumber Syndrome. Nobody wants to slurp down limp cucumbers.
14. Tofu Seaweed Salad
This tempting side blends tender tofu chunks and strands of chewy seaweed with a ginger vinaigrette. For a healthy and quick snack, pile it into a bowl.
Alternatively, serve it over greens for a light meal.
15. Ramen Noodle Salad
You may have come across ramen noodles in hot main dishes, where they add flavor to broths with chicken, fish, and meats. But these tasty wheat noodles can also be served cold as a hearty salad.
This recipe incorporates ramen as the base of a chopped salad. Including carrots, red cabbage, and green onion, this vibrantly colored and nutritious bowl will beautify any dinner table.
16. Japanese Mushroom Salad
If you have yet to marinate mushrooms, your cooking has been missing out. The earthy flavor and subdued sweetness of mushrooms deepen in this recipe when steeped in a piquant blend of rice wine vinegar, tamari, mirin, and sugar.
Be sure to use Japanese mushrooms rich with antioxidants. If you can’t find enoki, golden enoki, or noki, you may find better luck with shiitake or oyster mushrooms.
17. Spicy Bean Sprout Salad
The crunchy bean sprouts give this recipe a satisfying bite. They are tossed in a spicy sauce with sesame oil to impart a rich, nutty flavor.
Try piling this on top of ramen for a truly authentic Japanese meal.