Atsuko's Japanese Kitchen: Home-cooked comfort food made simple

Learn how to make the enigmatic and umami-rich comfort food of Japan, with over 60 recipes straight from Atsuko’s Ikeda’s authentic yet modern Japanese Kitchen.

Japanese home-cooking is full of comfort, but a version of comfort food that is stylish, mouth-watering and less unhealthy than most. For those who aspire to recreate the Japanese dishes enjoyed in restaurants or on holiday, and to discover even more about the secrets and techniques involved in Japanese home cooking, you are invited into Atsuko’s Kitchen.

Learn the subtle art of creating a balanced meal as demonstrated with an easy-to-follow infographic. Learn the basics, such as how to season food the Japanese way, how to prepare dashi stock and how to make variations on basic rice. Choose from the delicious array of main dishes you might be familiar with, such as chicken teriyaki, tonkatsu pork, beef tataki, gyoza, seared tuna with ponzu, vegetable tempura, okonomiyaki, grilled eggplant with sesame sauce, plus recipes from Atsuko’s own family and modern creative repertoire. Also featuring ‘izakaya’ small plates for sharing and sumptuous modern desserts, there is Japanese comfort food for every occasion. With tips on how to present your dishes in the traditional way, anecdotes and cultural explanations of dishes, discover the secrets of Japanese home-cooking for yourself.