The best way to teach your children about Japanese geography and culture?
Cooking easy Japanese meals with them!
Learning about new cultures through international cuisine is a sensory experience involving all five senses and making learning really fun for children!
Not only is cooking delicious Japanese meals with your kids a fun way for them to learn more about the country, but it’s also a fantastic way to expand their food horizons and of course indulge in some pretty awesome dishes!
Most people ask themselves what are three traditional Japanese foods? And these are three of the most traditional Japanese foods:
- Sushi
- Miso soup
- Yakitori
But Japanese cuisine brims with wonderful dishes, so here are 5 kid-friendly Japanese recipes to explore Japan from your kitchen as a family!
Japanese Yakitori
If your family enjoys a BBQ, this Japanese Yakitori recipe could be a great dish to prepare and enjoy together. Japanese Yakitori refers to delicious and truly addictive Japanese-style chicken skewers! They’re perfect as a quick appetizer for lunch boxes or a family barbecue on a sunny day.
When making Japanese Yakitori, use chicken thighs to keep the dish moist and tender. After a few minutes on the grill, brush the rich and flavorsome Yakitori sauce (combination of umami and sweet flavors) onto the chicken.
The whole family will be dropping as the meat takes on a caramelized color and the incredible smell fills the air.
Fun fact: Japanese Yakitori are usually served in Japanese-style pubs called Izakaya.
Japanese Egg and Pork Curry Soup
Winter is just around the corner and there’s nothing better to warm up on a cold winter day than enjoying a warm and flavorful bowl of egg and pork curry soup!
This easy-to-make Japanese dish only takes 15 minutes to prepare and will be sure to delight everyone’s taste buds!
Here’s a fantastic recipe you can make with your kids.
Gyoza
Gyoza are succulent dumplings pan-fried the Japanese way.
These yummy treats, perfect as an appetizer or for a weeknight dinner, are juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. And the great news is that they’re pretty easy to make. All you need is a thinly rolled piece of dough, ground meat and vegetables. According to the Japanese cooking method, you’ll first need to fry them in a pan until they’re crispy before steaming them.
And tada! After 45 mins they’ll be ready to be served 😉 Here’s a great Gyoza recipe.
Japanese Parfait
Decadent strawberry chocolate dessert anyone?
If you’ve read some of our previous blogs on recipes to make with kids, you know that we love to finish these posts with indulgent desserts that will make your cooking sessions with your kids unforgettable.
This Japanese parfait is so delicious that we find it incredibly moreish! And all you need to whip up this yummy treat is a few ingredients!
This meal will be sure to be a hit and disappear quickly 😉
Udon Noodle Salad
Not only is an Udon noodle salad very easy to put together with your kids, but it’s also extremely fragrant and very healthy. That’s right. What’s not to like about this delicious Japanese dish? Here’s a recipe that packs a punch of flavors. You can enjoy it cold or warm.
Looking For More Fun Ways To Teach Your Kids About Japan?
We might have just what you need!
At The Landmark Kids, we know how important sparking your kids’ curiosity about geography and culture is. But we also know how difficult it can be to get children engaged in these topics.
That’s why we’ve created fun monthly geography mystery boxes. Each one is designed around a country and filled with fun clues, puzzles, and souvenirs to solve a mystery. And with the holidays quickly coming up, our boxes could be the perfect gift for your kids!
So, sign up now to explore the world from home with your kids.