The Best Collection of 13 Japanese Side and Salad Recipes
Japanese side dishes are delicious little plates that bring a perfect balance of tastes and textures to any meal. With just a few staple ingredients, fresh vegetables, and simple techniques, you’ll be whipping up tasty Japanese sides in no time!
Why You’ll Love Our Japanese Side Dish Recipes
Japanese food holds a special place in our hearts! I’m always captivated by the spread of small dishes in front of me when I visit our local Japanese restaurant. There’s something so charming about these side dishes—sometimes, we even enjoy them more than the main!
I love to decipher the unique ingredients and savour the variety. Each dish has its own burst of taste or distinctive feel, making the whole meal feel complete and oh-so-satisfying.
What Are Japanese Side Dishes?
Japanese side dishes, often vegetable-based or lightly seasoned, add variety and balance to any meal. These small plates are an essential part of Japanese cuisine, served to cleanse the palate, complement the main course, or add variety to a teishoku set meal or bento box.
Most side dish recipes are all about harmony and contrast—think of the zing of pickled veggies with rich katsu curry or the crunch of cabbage salad with teriyaki chicken.
A curated collection of authentic Japanese side dishes (okazu) featuring simple, balanced flavours that highlight the beauty of Japanese home cooking.
From crisp cucumber sunomono and spinach goma-ae to savoury Japanese potato salad and burdock root salad, each dish is designed to complement rice, grilled fish, or meat — light, elegant, and deeply satisfying.
Popular Japanese Side Dishes
If you’re new to Japanese home cooking, here are some simple, easy-to-make Japanese salads and side dishes that pair wonderfully with popular Japanese meals like teriyaki salmon, soba noodles, ramen, or katsu curry.
These make perfect additions to bento box ideas or traditional teishoku sets.
Japanese Cucumber Salad (Sunomono 酢の物)
1/13
One of the most simple yet popular Japanese side dishes, cucumber sunomono is light, tangy and incredibly refreshing. It takes less than 10 minutes to prep, our recipe is sure to impress.
Japanese Potato Salad Recipe ポテトサラダ
2/13
Get ready to elevate your potato salad game with this delightful, fluffy Japanese potato salad recipe! This creamy potato salad combines crunchy vegetables with a rich Kewpie mayonnaise dressing, and everyone always returns for seconds!
Japanese Pickled Cabbage (Tsukemono)
3/13
With just 3 ingredients, this quick Japanese pickled cabbage (tsukemono) is crunchy and refreshing. Cabbage tsukemono pairs perfectly with rich dishes or stands out on its own as a delightful snack. Don’t miss out on this must-try, easy Japanese side dish!
Hiyayakko Japanese Cold Tofu Side Dish
4/13
Hiyayakko, Japanese cold tofu, is a dish that celebrates simplicity, yet it’s packed with flavour. Whether you keep it classic or explore variations, this chilled tofu dish is sure to become a staple in your kitchen.
Japanese Burdock Root Salad (Gobo Salad)
5/13
Discover the crunchy, earthy delight of this Japanese burdock root salad. Our quick and easy gobo salad recipe with creamy sesame dressing is perfect for bento boxes, light meals, or as a side dish.
Wakame Salad with Wafu Dressing
6/13
Our 15-minute Japanese wakame salad is a fun twist on traditional leafy salads, the combo of crunchy cucumbers, daikon, and edamame tossed in zesty Japanese-style wafu dressing is just delicious.
Crab Sunomono (Japanese Crab Cucumber Salad)
7/13
Our Japanese crab cucumber salad, or crab sunomono, is the perfect mix of tangy, sweet, and savoury. Combining crisp cucumbers, wakame, and meaty imitation crab in a vinegary dressing creates a unique combination that is utterly delicious!
Easy Miso Eggplant Recipe (Air Fryer)
8/13
We have always adored nasu dengaku, and this air fryer version of miso-glazed eggplant is a game-changer! The air fryer does all the heavy lifting, making the eggplant perfectly tender with a beautifully caramelised glaze.
Japanese Spinach Salad (Horenso Gomaae)
9/13
This 10-minute sesame spinach salad recipe is quick to prepare and perfect for lunch boxes or healthy dinner sides. The addictive sweet-salty dressing with freshly ground sesame seeds transforms everyday vegetables into something extraordinary.
Simmered Japanese Pumpkin (Kabocha no Nimono)
10/13
This recipe epitomises Japanese side dish cooking, unpretentious yet flavourful. The simple yet satisfying simmered Japanese pumpkin dish highlights the natural sweetness and nuttiness of kabocha.
Japanese Cabbage Side Dish (Yamitsuki Cabbage)
11/13
A Popular izakaya appetiser, yamitsuki cabbage recipe is super easy with no cooking required. The nutty sesame aroma and salted cabbage create the perfect side dish for your next meal.
Kani Salad (Japanese Crab Salad)
12/13
Indulge in this easy-to-make Kani salad in just 10 minutes. Bursting with flavour, this Japanese salad is perfect for a quick lunch or a side dish. A crowd favourite with the sweet and spicy combination of imitation crab sticks, fresh vegetables, and a tangy dressing.
Japanese Sesame Green Beans (Goma-ae)
13/13
Make this easy Japanese sesame green beans recipe in 15 minutes! Crunchy green beans coated in a sweet, savoury sesame sauce that’s so addictive, you’ll want it on every vegetable. Easy side dish that is perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep and quick lunches.
Frequently Asked Questions
They’re known as okazu (おかず) — small dishes that accompany rice in a typical Japanese meal. They can be vegetable-based, pickled, simmered, grilled, or dressed in light sauces.
Absolutely! Many Japanese sides are perfect for prepping ahead. Pickles like tsukemono and potato salad actually taste better after a bit of time, and salads like sesame spinach or burdock salad are easy to make the day before.
Prepping these in advance makes weeknight meals a breeze!
Both! Many dishes like sunomono (vinegared salads) and goma-ae (sesame-dressed vegetables) are served chilled, while dishes like simmered pumpkin (kabocha no nimono) or sautéed mushrooms are best enjoyed warm.
Some essential ingredients for Japanese side dishes include soy sauce, rice vinegar, mirin (sweet cooking rice wine), dashi powder (for broths), sesame oil, Kewpie mayo and miso paste.
Keeping these staples will make it easy to prepare a wide range of Japanese side dishes.
If you don’t have mirin, a touch of rice vinegar with a pinch of sugar can work as a substitute. For dashi, you can use low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, though it will alter the flavour slightly.
Both mirin and dashi powder are available at most larger supermarkets or Asian grocery stores, and they can be kept in the pantry, so it is worth stocking up if you enjoy Japanese home cooking.
They’re perfect as part of a teishoku (set meal) — serve with rice, miso soup, and a main protein like teriyaki salmon or grilled chicken. Mixing warm and cold sides adds texture and balance to the meal.
At The Sidesmith, we celebrate the art of sides — recipes that turn every meal into something memorable. This Japanese side dish collection showcases the essence of washoku, Japan’s culinary philosophy of harmony and balance.
Every recipe is tested for authenticity, flavour, and ease, ensuring home cooks can enjoy restaurant-quality Japanese side dishes using everyday ingredients. From goma-ae to sunomono, each dish reflects our mission to make global side dishes approachable, modern, and beautifully presented.
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Hey there! We’re The Sidesmith!
Phenie
I tell the stories behind our recipes and capture the bits that make us human.
Sammy
I create delicious sides, often Asian-inspired. Easy for everyday meals or great for entertaining.
Amy
Love turning everyday salads and sides into fancy recipes jammed packed with flavour!
these recipes are amazing!
these are all such great recipes!
Wonderful collections I tried few from this list going to try rest of them so good, It made rememebr my Japan days.
I was thrilled to find this awesome collection of Japanese side dishes and get the recipes, as we love the cuisine. The miso eggplant and sesame beans are our favorites, and they turned out perfect and delicious. I can’t wait to try out the rest of the recipes.
I love Asian food and this roundup is full of delicious ideas! I can’t wait to add some of these to our menu.