Taste of Simplicity: Japanese One-Soup One-Dish Cuisine

The origin of Japanese cuisine is a dietary style called Ichiju-Issai (一汁一菜, "one soup, one dish"): eating a simple meal comprised of one bowl of soup and one side dish.

This style of food preparation traces its history to the the Five Great Zen Temples of the 12-century Kamakura period (Kamakura Gozan), developed as a form of meal that emphasized frugality and simplicity. This dietary style spread to the general public and eventually became established as a traditional Japanese daily dietary style.

Ichiju-Issai is a simple meal, for sure. But that's not where it stops. It's also healthy and delicious. So, whether you are counting calories or like Japanese food or quick satisfying meal, I want to encourage you to give it a try. You will not be disappointed!

Here are a few examples of Ichiju-Issai meals you may like:

Green peas rice and miso soup with lotus root and shiitake mushroom

Natto (fermented soybeans) rice with tofu miso soup

Grilled eel rice with snap peas, asparagus, and mushroom miso soup

Rice with roast pork and watercress and carrot potage