MasterChef winner Tim Anderson has revealed five essential Japanese ingredients that can elevate everyday cooking. The father-of-two, who lives in London, says these items are now widely available in supermarkets and are affordable.
Anderson, who won the BBC cookery show in 2011, recommends Japanese soy sauce, Japanese or short grain rice, dashi powder, mirin (preferably hon mirin), and miso. He believes these staples can help home cooks build confidence and improve all their dishes.
The 41-year-old, originally from Wisconsin, developed a passion for Japanese food after watching the cooking show Iron Chef as a teenager. He later moved to Los Angeles and then to Japan, where he fell in love with ramen and local food culture.
His latest cookbook, JapanEasy Kitchen, features simple recipes with no deep frying, including dishes like katsu curry parmo and no-churn soy sauce caramel ice cream. Many recipes are vegan or vegetarian.
For beginners, Anderson suggests trying the scampi rice bowl as a straightforward starting point.
