At RocketNews24, we understand the struggle of having to prepare meals that are both delicious and easy to make. It’s so difficult to find the time in the day to cook something yummy, especially when Chefs 7-Eleven and Lawson are always close by and ready to provide a variety of ready-to-eat meals. Unfortunately, time and time again it has been shown that home cooking is usually better for your health and also better for your wallet, so it’s time to roll up our sleeves and find our way into the kitchen.
However, just because it’s home cooking doesn’t mean it has to be complicated. There is a wonder ingredient that is fairly good for your health and pretty much compliments everything it is served with. So without further ado, we’d like to introduce Cheesy Meals with Cheese: A Japanese guide to home cooking with cheese that requires very little effort!
Our main ingredient in this cooking adventure is obviously cheese; rich in calcium, and protein, it also contains a number of vitamins, including A and B. In Japan, the most common type of cheese is a processed white one that melts easily and resembles a slice of “American cheese.” While this processed cheese is used in almost all of the following examples, we think that any cheese that melts would work, such as cheddar, Havarti, or Swiss.
You wouldn’t think cheese is all that common in Japanese cooking, but it is the industrious home cook that pairs it with almost anything as it goes surprisingly well with a number of staple foods. What home-cooked meals are jazzed up with a bit of cheese? Let’s find out!
With rice
▼ This simple meal requires only three ingredients. Microwave the rice and cheese, add a little soy sauce, and you’re finished!
▼ For a more Japanese flavor, microwave the rice and cheese for 30 seconds and then add some salty kombu (kelp).
▼ Another Japanese-style dish adds furikake (dry Japanese seasoning meant to be sprinkled on rice). Choose your favorite furikake flavor for this easy meal.
▼ For a more Western flavor, put cheese, ketchup, and mayonnaise over some rice, microwave to your desired heat and season with salt and pepper.
▼ Take any instant flavored rice (such as curry rice) and melt cheese on top for an extra rich flavor.
▼ Rice, cheese, and butter are the only three ingredients in this tasty meal.
▼ For those with yaki onigiri (grilled rice balls) handy, why not add some cheese?
Another fantastically easy meal is microwaving the rice and cheese and then sprinkling steak seasoning and shichimi (a Cayenne pepper-like blend of seven spices) for a flavorful meal. However, if rice is a little bit too starchy for your tastes, how about…
With vegetables
▼ This simple dish is tomatoes sliced into quarters with cheese, olive oil, and seasoned salt. Microwave or bake until the cheese melts.
▼ Why not try this delicious meal of potatoes, bacon, and cheese with a little salt and pepper. Cook in the microwave and presto, your meal is ready.
▼ A little higher in calories, but extremely tasty: potato salad and cheese! Potato salad in Japan has carrots, cucumbers and corn, so if you are looking for an extra special potato salad, try adding these ingredients as well.
▼ Avocado and cheese! Slice and pit the avocado, add bacon, cheese, and curry powder, then bake in the oven or toaster oven.
▼ Got an avocado that isn’t quite ripe? Cut it into thin slices, top with cheese, bake, and season with soy sauce and shichimi.
▼ Squash or pumpkin with cheese is also a savory treat. Try slicing a small gourd in half, remove the seeds, add cheese, salt, and pepper, then bake until tender!
For any of the recipes above, you can add onions, corn, or mushrooms, making the meals even more delicious! Now, let’s say all you have in your fridge is some tofu. Fear not, cheese goes with that as well!
With tofu
▼ Just three ingredients again: tofu, ketchup, and cheese! In that order, place them in a microwaveable dish and voila! Dinner!
▼ For those who like umeboshi (pickled plums), try tofu, honey flavored umeboshi, cheese, and sliced spring onions (which aren’t pictured).
▼ Got an egg you need to use? Try tofu, egg, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
▼ For a similar flavor profile, try tofu, cheese, ground black pepper, and olive oil.
▼ Looking for more protein? Add some canned chicken.
Finally, here are some more ideas for tasty snacks that feature cheese!
With gyoza/wonton skins
▼ Cheese and gyoza skin in the microwave makes a tasty snack.
▼ Be sure to try it with cherry tomatoes and basil; it’s like a mini pizza!
If you are rocking a bare refrigerator and only have some cheese in there…
▼ Just stick it in the microwave!
▼ Thinly sliced cheese on a baking sheet makes this crunchy snack.
Many of these meals can be made with food that you already have in your house. The versatility of cheese makes it a great companion to any dish. If you have any other examples of cheesy meals, please share them with us in the comments! We look forward to your laziness…we mean…creativity!
Source: Naver Matome
Top Image: Flickr/Abby flat-coat