Homemade Yakimeshi: The Art of Using Whatever is in the Fridge

I made Yakimeshi (Japanese fried rice) today!

​Cooking at home lacks the high-intensity heat of a professional restaurant kitchen, so it might not be exactly the same as what you get at a shop. Still, I did my best to make it as delicious as possible!

​When making Yakimeshi at home, there are no strict rules for ingredients. You just use whatever you happen to have at the time. Today’s version included onions, carrots, green onions, and eggs. For the seasoning, I went with soy sauce.

​Depending on my mood, I sometimes use salt, pepper, and chicken stock granules instead of soy sauce.

​"I have leftover rice!"
"I have a few stray vegetables!"
"I have eggs!"

​That’s usually the spark that makes me decide to cook Yakimeshi.

​I’m sure there are similar dishes all over the world—simple, delicious meals born from a "let's use what's left" mindset. I wonder what they are in your country?

Comments

Post a Comment

If you enjoyed this glimpse into my daily life, you can buy me a coffee here!

Popular posts from this blog

Today's Lunch: Super Spicy & Rich Chicken Ramen

Image
​I went out for ramen with my friend today! We had this spicy, rich chicken ramen covered in bright red ichimi (cayenne pepper powder). ​The soup is so thick and creamy that it clings to the noodles perfectly. Every bite is packed with the intense flavor of the broth! ​Of course, the toppings—chashu (braised pork), nori (seaweed), and nitamago (soft-boiled seasoned egg)—were the perfect match for the rich soup. It was absolutely delicious! ​As many of you probably know, Japanese people (especially guys!) LOVE ramen. That’s why there are so many different varieties of ramen all over the country. ​I’ll share more whenever I try a new bowl. Stay tuned! ​How spicy do you like your ramen? 
Read more

Today's Budget-Friendly Lunch: Retort Curry and Bean Sprouts! 🍛

Image
Today's lunch is Japanese curry rice and sautĂ©ed bean sprouts! ​In Japanese supermarkets, you'll find an incredible variety of "retort" (ready-to-eat) curry pouches. They are very affordable, yet each one tastes amazing. All you have to do is heat the pouch in the microwave for about a minute, pour it over rice, and it's done! ​For the rice, I used some leftover broccoli rice I made yesterday. ​The side dish is bean sprouts, which are probably the cheapest vegetable you can buy in Japan—only about 35 yen (approx. $0.23) per bag! My favorite way to eat them is a simple sautĂ© with sesame oil, salt, and pepper. It’s so simple, yet delicious. ​Today’s meal is a real "budget home-cooked lunch," but I'm totally satisfied!
Read more

McDonald’s Japan: The King of Fast Food and a Friend to the "Ordinary Guy"

Image
Today's lunch was McDonald’s! ​As many of you probably know, McDonald’s is everywhere in Japan. It is truly the king of hamburger chains here. ​I ordered the classic Big Mac meal (we call it a "Big Mac Set" in Japan). ​I’ve heard that the Big Mac in Japan is actually one of the cheapest in the world. For an ordinary Japanese guy like me, it’s a reliable friend that lets me get full without breaking the bank. ​A hearty burger paired with salty French fries—it’s the best! ​However, the concern about nutritional balance is the same in Japan as it is everywhere else in the world, so I have to be careful not to overdo it.
Read more