Dashi provides the base to many Japanese dishes and it brings out the umami (savouriness) so essential to Japanese cuisine through the ingredients described here, katsuobushi, hoshi-shiitake and konbu. Those ingredients are often mixed to create deeper and authentic flavor. By combining different kinds of umami, the umami taste is significantly magnified.

You can buy all kinds of granulated or liquid instant Dashi. However, you can also make your own fresh Dashi. Here’s how to make a basic dashi stock.

Japanese rice is a kind of rice known as short-grain sticky rice. All traditional Japanese dishes naturally go well with Japanese rice. If you don’t have a rice cooker at home, try cooking with a saucepan and gas stove. It is easy and simple. Follow a few tips so that you can enjoy Japanese rice at the perfect texture and stickiness.