20 Japanese Leek "Negi" Recipe Ideas | Sudachi (2024)

Japanese leeks, green onions or Welsh onions, called “negi” in Japan, are an important ingredient in Japanese cuisine. As mentioned in our negi article, negi, green onions, Welsh onions, and spring onions are similar but different in some ways. In this roundup post, I will introduce 20 recommended recipes where Japanese leeks and green onions especially shine!

1. Beef Sukiyaki

Sukiyaki, a revered Japanese celebratory dish, features high-quality, thinly sliced beef cooked in a sweet soy broth, complemented by a medley of vegetables and tofu. This recipe, intended to usher in a festive cheer during occasions like year-end “bonenkai” and New Year’s gatherings, is dipped in raw egg for a richer, balanced flavor.

Negi usually play a supporting role, but they are so important in sukiyaki that they play a secondary role after beef!

2. Duck Soba

Kamo Nanban Soba (Duck Soba) is a unique, umami-packed soba noodle dish featuring pan-fried duck breast and charred Japanese leeks in a rich dashi broth.

Duck is a rare ingredient in Japanese cooking, but it adds a delicious richness to the broth, complementing the soba noodles beautifully. Skin-on chicken thigh makes a great substitute if duck is unavailable, keeping this dish accessible and enjoyable.

3. Chicken Udon

Chicken Nanban Udon (Chicken Udon Noodle Soup) is a savory Japanese noodle dish that pairs tender chicken thigh, charred Japanese leeks, and deep-fried tofu pouch with chewy udon noodles, all steeped in a rich dashi broth.

A classic variation of udon noodle soup, this dish showcases chicken and Japanese leeks as the star ingredients, harmonizing traditional flavors in a delectable symphony. It’s a comforting, hearty recipe you can easily recreate from scratch.

4. Beef Negimaki (Beef Scallion Rolls)

Beef Negimaki, known as “negi no gyuniku maki” or “gyuniku no negi maki” in Japanese, is a delectable dish featuring thin slices of tender beef wrapped around thick pieces of green onion. Braised in a luscious sukiyaki-style sauce, this appetizer is quick and easy to make.

The sweet and savory combination of Japanese leeks and beef creates a harmonious flavor profile. Its convenient size and appealing presentation make it a popular choice for bento boxes or as a delightful side dish.

5. Kake Soba (New Year’s Eve Soba Noodle Soup)

Discover how to make Kake Soba, a cherished Japanese dish of buckwheat noodles in a hot, delectable dashi soup topped with thin green onions. Often enjoyed on New Year’s Eve, this comforting meal is simplicity and warmth in a bowl.

When soba noodles are replaced with udon, the dish is termed Kake Udon, or ‘Su-Udon’ in parts of the Kansai region. Explore this essential recipe and immerse yourself in a traditional Japanese dish.

6. Chicken Zosui (Japanese Rice Soup)

Zosui, or Ojiya, is a comforting Japanese dish combining simmered vegetables, chicken or seafood, and pre-cooked rice in a savory soup.

It’s an efficient way to use leftovers and, though the method differs, can be seen as Japan’s version of risotto or porridge. You can prepare the soup from scratch or use leftover hotpot soup for a zero-waste meal called “shimezosui”.

7. Kenchin Jiru (Traditional Japanese Vegetable Soup)

Kenchin Jiru, a nourishing soup from Buddhist traditions, is a harmony of tofu and diverse vegetables served in a soy sauce-infused dashi broth. Sautéed in sesame oil and simmered in a vegetarian broth, ingredients like daikon radish, Japanese leeks, carrots, and burdock root make this Japanese vegetable soup filling and vegan-friendly.

Adhering to “shojin ryori” (Japanese vegetarian cuisine) principles, its dashi broth relies on kombu and shiitake mushrooms, avoiding the conventional use of bonito flakes or dried sardines.

8. Nabeyaki Udon (Japanese Udon Hot Pot)

Nabeyaki Udon features thick udon noodles in a savory dashi broth, topped with juicy chicken thigh, tempura shrimp, and a medley of vegetables including tender slices of Japanese leek.

Unlike typical udon dishes, Nabeyaki Udon is prepared in an earthenware pot known as a “donabe,” brimming with an assortment of meat and vegetables that make it nutritious and filling. Despite its name including “yaki,” for fry/grill, it is distinct from “yaki udon” stir-fry, instead falling under the category of comforting hotpot dishes.

9. Easy Beef Sukiyaki Nabe Udon

Sukiyaki Udon is a flavorful Japanese hot pot dish combining chewy udon noodles, beef, tofu, and vegetables such as Japanese leek and shiitake mushrooms, in a rich sukiyaki-style broth. An easy and tasty meal can be ready in less than 30 minutes.

Offering the decadence of sukiyaki without the complex process, this dish provides a convenient way to enjoy the traditional sukiyaki flavors, sans the hassle.

10. Japanese Egg Drop Soup (Kakitamajiru)

Kakitamajiru, a Japanese-style egg drop soup, is a clear and light yet umami-rich dish, served in a homemade dashi broth and seasoned with soy sauce and salt. The Japanese leek simmered in the soup add depth and a subtle sweetness to the dish.

This simple soup, characterized by its fluffy egg ribbons, requires minimal ingredients and is easy to prepare. Its name, “kakitamajiru,” literally translates to “stirred egg soup,” an apt descriptor for this comforting, subtly flavorful dish.

11. Tenshinhan (Crab Meat Omelette on Rice)

Tenshinhan, a Chinese-influenced Japanese dish, is a flavorful combination of a fluffy crab meat omelet served atop a generous helping of rice, generously coated in a sweet vinegar sauce.

This delectable and easy-to-make dish features imitation crab and shiitake mushrooms. Despite its popularity across Japan, many are unaware that Tenshinhan is not an authentic Chinese dish, but a Japanese creation.

12. Homemade Japanese Miso Soup

Miso soup is a savory blend of dashi stock, miso paste, and various ingredients that vary by region. This warm, delicious soup, enriched with umami, makes an excellent side dish for any Japanese meal.

Ingredients may include vegetables, tofu, seaweed, and shellfish, all served in a thin, miso-flavored dashi broth. The varied choice of stock, miso, and added ingredients ensures that miso soup offers a unique taste experience every time, making it a versatile part of the daily Japanese diet. Whether Japanese leek is incorporated into the soup and thinner variations (scallions) are simply used as a topping or garnish, green onion is an excellent addition to miso soup.

There are also recipes for mushroom miso soup and plant-based miso soup!

13. Tonpeiyaki (Pork and Cabbage Omelette)

Tonpeiyaki, a quick and affordable teppanyaki dish, is made with pork, cabbage, green onion, and eggs, all topped with okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise. Essentially a lighter, fluffier alternative to okonomiyaki, this dish can be prepared in 10 minutes with easily accessible ingredients.

Commonly found in okonomiyaki restaurants and izakayas in Western Japan, Tonpeiyaki makes for an excellent side dish or a popular beer snack.

14. Tokachi Butadon (Hokkaido Pork Rice Bowl)

Butadon is a comforting blend of succulent pork belly caramelized in a soy sauce glaze, served atop fluffy, short-grain Japanese rice. This pork rice bowl offers a complex flavor, blending sweetness with a pleasant touch of bitterness.

The dish is typically garnished with green peas, edamame, or shiraganegi (string-cut white part of a Japanese leek), and can be paired with pickles and miso soup for a complete meal.

15. Garlic Teriyaki Chicken Bowl

Garlic Teriyaki Chicken Donburi is a mouthwatering, simple dish that delivers comfort in each bowl. Featuring succulent pan-fried chicken thigh seasoned with a garlic-infused sweet teriyaki sauce, this dish is served atop a bed of fluffy Japanese white rice.

Adding thin chopped green onions and a soft-boiled egg enhance the flavors, making this quick and easy dish irresistibly good.

16. “Ebi Chili” Stir-fried Shrimp in Chili Sauce

Ebi Chili is a delicious Chinese-inspired dish that is well loved in Japan. Made with succulent prawns and aromatic Japanese leeks cooked in a sweet and spicy homemade chili sauce, it pairs perfectly with fluffy Japanese rice.

Despite its bold red color, it’s not overly spicy, making it a versatile dish that can be adjusted to suit any palate. This quick and easy recipe ensures a flavor-packed meal!

17. Japanese Curry Udon

Curry Udon is a warming and hearty dish, perfect for chilly days. It combines chewy udon noodles and a rich curry-infused dashi soup. This fusion of Indian spices and Japanese dashi and noodles creates a unique and comforting dish packed with umami.

Unlike traditional udon dishes served in a light broth, curry udon stands out with its thick, spicy, and fulfilling flavor. With pork and various vegetables, it’s customizable to your taste!

18. “Chanko Nabe” Sumo Stew

Chanko Nabe is a flavorful hotpot dish loved by Japanese sumo wrestlers. It’s loaded with vegetables, tofu, and homemade chicken meatballs in a light but savory dashi-chicken broth.

With its versatile nature, you can personalize it with your favorite ingredients, offering a wholesome, comforting meal at home.

19. Miso Mackerel (Saba no Misoni)

Saba no Misoni is a traditional Japanese dish featuring mackerel fillets simmered in a savory miso-flavored broth. The fresh ginger in the broth balances the robust flavor of mackerel, creating a harmonious taste that pairs well with rice.

It’s one of the most popular ways to prepare mackerel in Japan, offering a simple yet flavorful meal option.

20. Japanese Mapo Tofu (Mabo Dofu)

Mapo Tofu, a popular Chinese dish, has been adapted by the Japanese into Mabo Dofu. It’s a flavorful blend of ground pork, tofu, and onion cooked in a mild yet spicy sauce.

While keeping some original elements, the Japanese version incorporates miso paste, toning the spiciness, making it a widely enjoyed dish among families, like Spaghetti Bolognese in England.