Traditional Japanese Breakfast

Ingredients for Traditional Japanese Breakfast

• 100g short-grain rice

• 2 tablespoons mixed Japanese pickles, such as cucumber, daikon, cabbage

• 1 tablespoon instant dashi (Japanese stock) or vegetable

• Stock powder

• 550ml boiling water

• 2 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and chopped into small cubes

• 1 tablespoon white miso paste

• 1 spring onion, very finely chopped

• 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, finely chopped

• 1 spring onion, finely chopped

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 60g fillets of salmon

• 3 medium free-range eggs

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 2 teaspoons soy sauce

• 1 teaspoon bonito flakes or instant dashi powder (optional)

• vegetable oil for cooking

Cook the rice according to the instructions.

Put the instant dashi stock in a pan with the boiling water. Add the potato and simmer over medium heat for about six minutes, or until the potato is cooked.

Ladle some soup from the pan into a bowl and dissolve the miso in it. Gradually return the miso mixture to the soup. Stir the soup gently but don't let it come to the boil once you've added the miso. Turn off the heat and add the chopped spring onion.

Serve hot in small bowls.

Mix the ginger, spring onion and soy sauce together and pour over the salmon fillets. Leave them to stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.

Pour a little boiling water into the grill pan and place the fish on the grill rack above the water (this keeps it moist while it grills). Grill the fish under medium to high heat for about 5-6 minutes on each side, taking care not to overcook it.

Combine the eggs, sugar, soy sauce and bonito flakes (or instant dashi), if using, and mix the ingredients thoroughly.

Heat a little vegetable oil in a small, non-stick frying pan over medium to high heat and add the egg mixture. Agitate the eggs, using a wooden spoon, so the texture of the omelette remains fluffy.

When the eggs are half-cooked, fold the omelette in half, to make a semi-circle, then fold the curving section inwards to form a rectangle, and then fold the ends inwards until you have what looks like a little square package. This creates the distinctive layered effect, called tamagoyaki, characteristic of a Japanese omelette.

Flip the "package" over and cook for a further two minutes. Cut into quarters.

Japanese etiquette decrees that you place the bowl of rice on your left and the bowl of miso soup on your right. Serve the fish on a separate plate, the pickles in a small bowl, and the omelette on another small plate. Now test your hungover skills with chopsticks.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.