About Japanese Side Dishes
In Washoku, a classic everyday meal is served in the form of “ichijū-sansai”: rice + soup (e.g., miso soup) + one main dish (fish or meat) + two small sides. You’ll see this format in set meals (teishoku) and traditional kaiseki course cuisine. Japanese side dishes are the small plates that are served alongside the main dish which have lighter seasoning and add nutrition, color, and texture to the table.
Benefits of Side Dishes:
Nutritional Balance: provide extra vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Flavor Balance: Provide a sweet, spicy, or sour flavor that accents the main dish. Helpful in resetting the palate.
Highlight Seasonal Ingredients: Adjusts the menu to suit the season by utilizing seasonal ingredients.
This recipe is an easy side dish: simply microwave and toss together.
Tender sasami (chicken tenderloins) are marinated in a sesame–soy sauce–garlic dressing and combined with softly steamed cabbage. It’s addictive—great as a side or with drinks. Beer-friendly! Bulky cabbage shrinks in the microwave, so you can eat plenty.
10 minutes
Chiori
PROFILE
INGREDIENTS
SERVES 4
Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings
When scaling the recipe, the ratios of some ingredients may require slight adjustments. Adjust as necessary and season to taste.
- 1 /2 cabbage, torn into bite-size pieces
- 9 oz chicken tenderloins
- A2 tbsp. sake
- A1/2 tsp. salt
- A1/2 tsp. sugar
- B1 1/2 tbsp. sushi vinegar (seasoned rice vinegar)
- B1 tbsp. soy sauce
- B1/2 tsp. chicken stock granules/powder
- B2 tsp. sugar
- B1/2 tbsp. garlic paste (tube)
- B1 tbsp. toasted sesame oil
- B1 tbsp. mayonnaise
- B1 tbsp. toasted sesame seeds
- BOptional: coarsely ground black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Preparation
Remove the tendon from each tenderloin; poke all over with a fork.- 1
Steam the chicken in the microwave. Place tenderloins in a microwave-safe dish; add A (2 tbsp. sake, ½ tsp. salt, and ½ tsp. sugar) and rub in. Cover and microwave for 4 minutes at 600 W.
- 2
Make marinade B. While the chicken steams, mix B (1 ½ tbsp. sushi vinegar, 1 tbsp. soy sauce, ½ tsp. chicken stock, 1 tsp. sugar, garlic paste, and 1 tbsp. sesame oil) in a large bowl.
- 3
Steam the cabbage. Put torn cabbage in a microwave-safe bowl, cover, and microwave 3 minutes 30 seconds at 600 W. Let sit in the microwave, covered, for an additional 2 minutes.
- 4
Shred & soak. Shred the hot tenderloins and add to B, turning to coat; let it sit while you finish the cabbage.
- 5
Dress the cabbage. Drain off any additional liquid from the cabbage add 1 heaping tbsp. of mayonnaise and mix thoroughly.
- 6
Combine. Add the marinated chicken and 1 tbsp. toasted sesame seeds to the cabbage; toss to combine.
- 7
Serve. Finish with black pepper if you like.
RecipeID
315
Tips & Notes
Cabbage releases liquid; drain before adding mayonnaise so the dressing doesn’t thin out.
Prefer less sweetness? Reduce the sugar slightly.
Feel free to increase garlic paste or sesame oil to taste.
Make-ahead: good for 2 days in the fridge.
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I live in Sapporo, Hokkaido, and I’m a mother of two daughters who both love to eat. As a working mom, my realistic, everyday recipes have resonated with many, and as of May 2024, I’m grateful to have over 380,000 followers on Instagram. Thank you so much for your support! From a homemaker’s perspective, my motto is to create recipes that make families happy and help busy women. I share dishes that can be made even more delicious with just a small twist using seasonings you already have at home. Along with recipes, I also post daily tips on cooking techniques to enhance flavor and handy food storage methods that make life in the kitchen easier.