Do not substitute with rice wine vinegar. Suggested substitution: 1 Tbsp mirin = 1 Tbsp water (or sake) + 1 tsp sugar.

Learn more about different types of dashi here. If you are vegetarian, make Kombu Dashi or Shiitake Dashi. You can use dashi packet (tea bag style) to cut down on time. You can choose one of 3 ways to make dashi. All you need is water, kombu (edible kelp) or/and dried bonito flakes ( katsuobushi). The good thing is dashi is super easy and simple to prepare (just need 30 minutes or less). Condiments Dashi (Japanese stock)ĭashi is the fundamental of Japanese cooking and without it, you can’t produce authentic flavors. Otherwise, you’ll find your quick answers below. If you wish to learn more about the specific ingredient, click on the link and it will lead you to a more thorough article on the uses, storage, and shopping. And don’t be afraid to experiment and try things out. Please be aware that not all substitutions are going to yield the authentic Japanese flavors you’re looking for, but they will allow you to enjoy Japanese dishes at home nonetheless.įor my recipes on Just One Cookbook, I often include more suggestions for fresh ingredients in the write-up where you can work with local ingredients. When all else fails and you find yourself having to look for substitutions, you can use the list below as your guide. Ingredient Substitutions for Japanese Cooking So, do check in with the stores once in a while and you may be in luck. Local Japanese Grocery Stores Around the World (A great resource thanks to YOU!)Īlso, major grocery stores are starting to carry more Japanese and Asian ingredients these days due to the popularity of Japanese cuisine.Resources for Japanese Ingredientsĭepending on where you live in the world, I recommend looking up online stores to see if you can find the ingredients first, especially for cooking authentic Japanese flavors. Here are some quick resources:

You can also browse my pantry pages to learn more about each ingredient. Do you struggle with Japanese cooking because you don’t have a certain ingredient in your kitchen? Or have you discovered a delicious recipe you wish to make, but do not live near a Japanese or Asian market? Or maybe you’re on a specific diet? In this post, you’ll find suggestions for ingredient substitution and some really useful resources for Japanese cooking.īefore we start, you can learn about the most basic Japanese essential ingredients to cook Japanese dishes at home.

Cheese roux substitute