This miso garlic marinade blitzes 15 confit garlic cloves with a tablespoon each of olive oil, rice vinegar and mirin plus three tablespoons of miso paste into a smooth, spreadable coating. Miso brings the umami, mirin the sweetness — and that sweetness is exactly what builds a deep, dark crust on grilled meat. Enough for about 4 steaks or chops.
Spicy tuna yaki onigiri stuff a sriracha-mayo tuna filling into furikake rice triangles, get a teriyaki brush and air-fry at 180 °C for 15 minutes until the outside crisps. Canned tuna, one cup of rice, and a triangle mold (or your hands) — crunchy grilled-style onigiri in half an hour. Makes about 4; serves 2.
This air-fryer sushi bake layers seasoned rice under a creamy, spicy salmon-and-crab topping. Air-fry salmon at 180 °C for 20 minutes, flake and mix with crab, mayo, sriracha, cream cheese and salt; season rice with vinegar, sugar and salt; layer rice, nori and the salmon mix in a tray and air-fry at 200 °C/390 °F for 15 minutes. Scoop onto nori and eat. Serves 4.
These savory Japanese steamed eggs set into a wobbly, spoonable custard because the eggs are diluted with exactly twice their weight in chicken broth. Weigh the cracked eggs first, then measure the broth, since that 2:1 ratio is what gives the custard its set. Straining the whisked mixture through a sieve removes air bubbles and gives a glassy surface. Eight minutes over low steam plus a 5-minute covered rest is all the cooking they need. You know they are done when the center jiggles as one piece rather than sloshing. Finish with sesame oil, soy sauce, and scallions.
Never eat dry chicken again: this Japanese low-temperature method keeps chicken breast tender and juicy every time. Trim the tendons, cure a 300 g breast with 3 g salt and 1.5 g sugar for 15 minutes, then poach in just-off-the-boil water (80–85 °C / 175–185 °F) for 23–25 minutes until the center hits 74 °C / 165 °F. Finish with a 1-minute butter sear for colour. Serves 2.