Japanese cuisine has an intimidating reputation that has convinced most home cooks that its beloved preparations are best left to the experts. But legendary chef Masaharu Morimoto, owner of the wildly popular Morimoto restaurants, is here to change that. In Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking, he introduces readers to the healthy, flavorful, surprisingly simple dishes favored by Japanese home cooks.

Chef Morimoto reveals the magic of authentic Japanese food—the way that building a pantry of half a dozen easily accessible ingredients allows home cooks access to hundreds of delicious and simple recipes, empowering them to adapt and create their own inventions. From revelatory renditions of classics like miso soup, nabeyaki udon, and chicken teriyaki to little known but unbelievably delicious dishes like fish simmered with sake and soy sauce, Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking brings home cooks closer to the authentic experience of Japanese cuisine than ever before.

And, of course, the famously irreverent chef also offers playful riffs on classics, reimagining tuna-and-rice bowls in the style of Hawaiian poke, substituting dashi-marinated kale for spinach in oshitashi, and upgrading the classic rice seasoning furikake with toasted shrimp shells and potato chips. Whatever the recipe, Chef Morimoto reveals the little details—the right ratios of ingredients in sauces, the proper order for adding seasonings—that make all the difference in creating truly memorable and healthy meals that merge simplicity with exquisite flavor and visual impact.

Photography by Evan Sung

Master the art of Japanese cooking with Chef Morimoto’s essential techniques:

• Traditional Japanese Recipes: Master timeless classics like miso soup, nabeyaki udon, and chicken teriyaki with step-by-step guidance from an Iron Chef.
• Japanese Pantry Staples: Learn how a core set of just a half-dozen accessible ingredients can unlock hundreds of delicious meals.
• Celebrity Chef Secrets: Chef Morimoto reveals the small but crucial details—from the right ratios to the proper order of seasonings—that create exquisite flavor.
• Creative Recipe Riffs: Discover playful, modern twists on the classics, including tuna-and-rice bowls in the style of Hawaiian poke and furikake made with potato chips.