Celebrate Japanese superfoods with Ichiba
Japan Centre – the largest Japanese food hall in Europe is celebrating superfood month this May with a variety of events and in-store superfoods that you can purchase. One to cook? Japan Centre has also put a list of delicious and healthy recipes together that are gut friendly and have all the goodies you need.
Superfoods have a huge impact on our health and wellbeing and with Japan having one of the longest life expectancies in the world – ranking 3rd place compared to other countries in 2023 and the reason for this is partly due to the nutrient rich diets they follow.
With this being said it’s no wonder that the largest and most popular Japanese food hall wants to celebrate May with their Superfoods, and to support this a list of recipes and events have been listed put together from, Koji workshops to making Kenchin Vegetable Soup for everyone to use and take advantage of.
From vibrant green matcha powder packed with antioxidants to the umami-rich seaweed varieties like nori, wakame, and kombu, many everyday ingredients in the Japanese diet are nutrient dense, high in fibre and good for the gut. Fermented foods like miso, soy sauce, and natto are not only delicious but also promote gut health with their probiotic properties. Additionally, the nutrient-rich sea vegetables such as hijiki and arame provide essential minerals like iodine and calcium.
Together, these superfoods form the cornerstone of Japanese dietary traditions, contributing to overall well-being and longevity, and Japan Centre has shared a list of Japanese superfoods which you can add to the shopping list next time the weekly shop is due, items can be found in various Japan Centre branches with the likes of Purple Sweet Potato – available at Japan Centre Leicester Square and Ichiba Westfield London only and also featured in Netflix’s recent documentary: Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, these purple sweet potatoes are the favourites of one of the longest living groups of people in the world. Full of antioxidants, purple sweet potatoes reduce inflammation and boost your immune system. They’re also easy to incorporate into your diet, enjoy them mashed, roasted, baked and air fried.
Chilled Japan Centre Vegan Natto Fermented Soybeans Organic natto is full of probiotic goodness. Whether you’ve experienced its ‘Marmite’ love-hate taste or not, these infamous fermented beans of Japan and all their wondrous benefits are fresh in this chilled packet.
Japan Centre Barley Mugi Miso which is made from fermented soybeans, along with grains like rice or barley is packed with essential nutrients, including protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Its fermentation process also results in the formation of probiotics, which promote gut health and aid digestion.
Japan Centre Premium Stone Ground Matcha Green Tea Powder is rich green tea powder, high in antioxidants. Grown and stone-ground in Shizuoka, Japan Centre’s own brand matcha green tea powder has been made using only the highest quality green tea leaves. Matcha is often hailed as a superfood due to its numerous health benefits and high concentration of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. This airtight canister contains 30g premium quality matcha, enough for 30 cups! Rich and velvety, use this matcha powder to make exquisite cups of green tea, creamy matcha lattes, bubble tea, smoothies and even cocktails.
Maruti Shokuhin Umeboshi Pickled Plums With Shiso: Made with no additives, these pickled plums have been seasoned with shiso (or perilla) leaves to give them an additional herby, citrusy flavour. Umeboshi has great anti-bacterial advantages.
Kimura Natural Pickled Radish is just delicious, enjoy Japanese pickles in their finest form with this pickled daikon mooli radish by Kimura. Known in Japanese as ‘takuan’, this pickle has a naturally delicate flavour, made possible using mooli radishes from Murayama city in Yamagata. Daikon is low in calories and high in fibre, making it beneficial for digestive health. Chilled Japan Centre Vegan Momen Tofu offers numerous health benefits, including being a rich source of high-quality protein, low in saturated fat and containing calcium and magnesium. Tofu supports bone health, and its low glycemic index may help regulate blood sugar levels, making it a suitable option for individuals aiming to control their blood sugar levels.
Tokon Seaweed Salad Mix is ideal for a side dish, you can purchase small packets of seaweed salad mix, including wakame, agar, kelp, kuki wakame, red and benisugi seaweed grown off the coast of Japan. Perfect for side dishes, soups and salads, this seaweed salad mix is low calorie and full of vitamins.
With all these delicious superfoods, how can we not celebrate superfoods month with Japan Centre. It’s time to kickstart the start of summer with super gut friendly foods!
JAPAN CENTRE SUPERFOOD RECIPES
Get lots of nutrition in the morning with this easy natto breakfast bowl recipe. Natto are fermented soy beans with a strong yeast-y flavour and slimy texture, making them an acquired taste. Natto is also full of protein, iron, dietary fibre and other nutrients, making it an ideal breakfast food. Whether you are a long-term fan of natto or are just starting to develop a taste for it, our natto breakfast bowl is a guaranteed morning meal winner.
Prepare an easy and delicious Japanese superfood miso soup under 30 minutes for your midweek meal. A quick and easy heartwarming soup dish with umami flavours from miso, quinoa and tasty veggies.
When it’s frosty outside or you are feeling under the weather, there’s nothing better than a warming and rich bowl of Kenchin Vegetable Soup. Originally a staple of Buddhist temple cuisine, this healthy dish now has a wide variety of variations for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. With daikon, taro potatoes, carrot and abura age fried tofu, it makes an ultra-satisfying side, or a great light meal packed full of healthy goodness.
Matcha green tea latte (hot or iced)
Wake up in the morning with a rejuvenating, nutritious matcha latte. This fast and easy recipe compliments and offsets the fragrant, leafy taste of matcha green tea powder with creamy milk and a little sugar for a flavour balance that will leave you feeling ready and raring to go. Delicious hot or cold.
Miso is a traditional Japanese ingredient made from fermented soy beans. Used in a selection of dishes, it is most commonly mixed with dashi soup stock to create miso soup. Here we have a traditional recipe for miso soup, but there are seasonal and regional varieties you may wish to try once you’ve mastered the basics.
Sometimes, there’s nothing like slurping up some sumptuous udon noodles to put a smile on your lips, and this udon soup recipe is here to help. Combining tasty dashi-based soup broth, kikurage and enoki mushrooms, and spinach leaves, this is an ideal light meal for an autumn evening.
Shirataki stir fry with mushrooms
Enjoy all the flavours of a scrumptious stir fry at only a fraction of the calories with this shirataki stir fry with mushrooms recipe. Shirataki are also known as miracle noodles, because they contain very little calories or carbohydrates, are rich in protein, and soak up lots of flavour. This mushroom stir fry is perfect for serving for lunch or as a light dinner.
Create a healthy, delicious and refreshing salad packed with Japanese flavours with this wakame and tofu salad recipe. Both wakame seaweed and tofu are used as toppings or garnishes in a variety of Japanese dishes, from salads to miso soup to hot pots. Wakame adds a delightful hit of umami to a dish, while tofu adds bulk and absorbs surrounding flavours. This salad is a perfect side dish or light meal on a warmer day.
