profile

Chef JA Cooks

At Chef JA Cooks, you’ll discover easy and healthy Japanese recipes, mostly vegetarian, that are simple to recreate at home. The dishes emphasize minimal ingredients and straightforward techniques.

Featured Post

✨ Kid-Friendly Japanese Lunch Ideas

Hi there Reader -- It’s summer break here in Japan, and today, I’m sharing a few simple recipes that are great to make together. Noodles are perfect for a quick lunch. Pasta and somen are easy to prepare, and kids can help choose toppings, mix ingredients, or serve everything at the table. We also made rice okonomiyaki and fried rice using leftover rice. They’re filling, easy to make, and the kind of meals kids really enjoy! I hope these ideas bring a little inspiration to your easy summer...

Hi there Reader -- Last week, I shared a Japanese grocery haul and showed what I bought for one week of family meals in Japan. This week, I’m sharing how I used those ingredients to make a full week of family dinners! It’s a realistic look at everyday Japanese home cooking, and I hope you enjoy seeing the full week of meals. 👉 New post:What We Eat for Dinner in Japan for One Week 🎥 New video: From Grocery Haul to Dinner: 7 Japanese Family Meals 💬 What Our Community Is Saying This Week! "The...

Hi there Reader -- This week, I’m sharing a Japanese grocery haul for my family. In this post, I’ll show you what I bought for one week of family meals in Japan, including summer vegetables, fish, tofu, eggs, and other everyday ingredients. I also share how I prep some of the ingredients after shopping, so I hope it gives you a closer look at everyday Japanese home cooking. 👉 New post:Japanese Summer Grocery Haul: What I Buy in One Week 🎥 New video: Grocery Shopping in Japan: What a Family of...

Where are you cooking from? Before sharing this week recipes, I’d love to know where you’re cooking from. This was a lovely suggestion from Mary — thank you! Since many of you live in different parts of the world, I’m hoping to share more seasonal recipe ideas that fit your weather. Choose one below and let me know where you are! ☀️ I’m in the Northern Hemisphere❄️ I’m in the Southern Hemisphere Hi there Reader -- This week, I’m sharing fresh corn recipes! Corn is one of my favorite...

Hi there Reader -- If you love soft and chewy Japanese sweets, this one is for you. Shiratama dango is one of my favorite cold desserts for summer. It has that mochi-like chewy texture, but it’s very simple to make at home. You can enjoy it in so many ways — with mitarashi sauce, fruit, sweet red bean paste, kinako, matcha, or any toppings you like. I hope you’ll try this cold summer treat! 👉 Dango Recipes to Try Shiratama Dango with Mitarashi Sauce Shiratama Dango with Fruit 🎥 Watch the...

Hi there Reader -- Yesterday, I saw a news story about the global matcha boom and how more and more matcha products are appearing around the world. It mentioned that matcha lattes are especially popular in Australia, and that new products like fruit-flavored matcha powders and matcha gummies are being made for overseas markets. So this week, I thought it would be a nice time to share some of my favorite matcha recipes. 👉 Matcha Recipes to Try Easy Iced Matcha Latte Easy Vegan Matcha Cookies...

Hi there Reader -- This week, I’m sharing a simple guide to different types of tofu. I’ve received a few questions about tofu, so I decided to put together a guide to help explain the different types and how to choose the right one. I also made a video where I explain it more visually, so I hope you’ll check that out too! 👉 New Post: Types of Japanese Tofu 🎥 Watch the tofu video here: I hope these recipes bring a little inspiration to your meals this week. 💬 What Our Community Is Saying This...

Hi there Reader -- This week, I’m sharing a few refreshing cold somen noodle recipes for summer. In Japan, summer means somen. On days when I don’t feel like cooking much, I often turn to somen for a quick and easy meal. If it’s too hot to cook, or you just want something simple and refreshing, I hope you’ll give somen noodles a try! 👉 New recipes: Cold Somen Noodles with Kimchi, Natto, and Cucumber Cold Somen Noodles with Tomato and Avocado Cold Somen Noodles with Miso Mackerel 9 Cold Somen...

Hi there Reader -- This week, I’m sharing two simple meal ideas. 👉 New recipe: Homemade Fish Burger → The first one is a new recipe for a fish burger. It’s made with crispy fried fish, fresh vegetables, and a creamy egg mayo sauce. This one is a big hit with my family! For a vegetarian option, you can use tofu katsu instead of fish. 🎥 Watch the video:Cucumber Tuna Sandwich Lunch → I also shared a short video of a simple sandwich using cucumber tuna salad. It’s easy to make and perfect for a...

Hi there Reader -- What have you been craving lately? It already feels like summer here in Japan!When the weather gets hot and humid, I always reach for refreshing dishes — especially cucumber. 🥒 Today I’m sharing 5 easy Japanese cucumber side dishes. Perfect for using up extra cucumbers or adding one fresh dish to your everyday meals. 👉 Refreshing cucumber sides: Cucumber Sticks with Miso Mayo Dip Umeboshi Cucumber Salad Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Ponzu Pickled Cucumbers with Shio Kombu...