A three-tiered lacquer box filled with an array of vibrant, well-arranged dishes. Top layer reveals glossy black soybeans, bright oranges of the shrimp, and the subtle glimmer of golden sweet rolled omelettes. The middle box unveils delicious simmered vegetables, highlighting deep purples, earthy greens, and heartwarming broths. The bottom compartment indulges with grilled fish and seaweed rolls, juxtaposing shades of ocean blues and fresh greens.

Elegant Osechi Ryori for Jidai Matsuri

Name: Elegant Osechi Ryori for Jidai Matsuri
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 150 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: sweetened black soybeans, 1 cup; dried kelp, 1 strip for dashi; bonito flakes, 1 cup for dashi; large shrimp, 8 pieces peeled and deveined; eggs, 6 beaten; sugar, 3 tablespoon for tamagoyaki; mirin, 1 tablespoon; soy sauce, 4 tablespoons; lotus root, 1 thinly sliced; spinach, 1 bunch blanched; sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon toasted; boneless, skin-on chicken thighs, 4; sake, 3 tablespoons; white fish fillets, 2 grilled; nori, enough to wrap around rice balls; cooked sushi rice, 2 cups rolled into balls; cooking oil, as needed; salt and pepper, as needed

Category Main Course

Prep 60 minutes

Cook 90 minutes

Style Japanese

Technique Simmering

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily Recipe: October 22, 2025

To celebrate Jidai Matsuri or 'The Festival of Ages', we'll be creating our own version of Osechi Ryori - a variety of colorful, traditional Japanese dishes often enjoyed during festivities. Key ingredients include sweetened black soybeans, home-made dashi, and succulent shrimp.

Ingredients (for 4)

Sweetened black soybeans - 1 cup
Dried kelp - 1 strip - for dashi
Bonito flakes - 1 cup - for dashi
Large shrimp - 8 pieces - peeled and deveined
Eggs - 6 - beaten
Sugar - 3 tablespoon - for tamagoyaki
Mirin - 1 tablespoon
Soy sauce - 4 tablespoons
Lotus root - 1 - thinly sliced
Spinach - 1 bunch - blanched
Sesame seeds - 1 tablespoon - toasted
Boneless, skin-on chicken thighs - 4
Sake - 3 tablespoons
White fish fillets - 2 - grilled
Nori - enough - to wrap around rice balls
Cooked sushi rice - 2 cups - rolled into balls
Cooking oil - as needed
Salt and pepper - as needed

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍵🌿🔥

Combine kelp, bonito flakes, and water in a pot. Once it boils, lower the heat and let it simmer.
Step 2 - 🥘🖤🌰

In a separate pot, cook sweetened black soybeans until they are tender, then set them aside.
Step 3 - 🍗🍶🔥

Marinate the chicken thighs in sake, mirin, soy sauce and a dash of sugar. Grill until golden brown.
Step 4 - 🍤🔥🍳

Season shrimps with salt and pepper, then saute in a pan. Set aside when done.
Step 5 - 🍳🍯🥢

Create a sweet rolled omelette by combining beaten eggs, sugar, mirin, and soy sauce. Cook this in a rectangular pan one layer at a time, rolling each time a layer is done.
Step 6 - 🍲🥬🥢

Simmer the lotus root in the prepared dashi until tender. Blanch the spinach and toss it with sesame seeds.
Step 7 - 🍙🌊🐟

Wrap sushi rice balls in nori and top each with a piece of grilled fish fillet.
Step 8 - 🍱🎨📦

Arrange all dishes colorfully in a three-tiered lacquer box.

Additional

While traditionally enjoyed for New Year's celebration, Osechi Ryori can also make a splendid feasting centerpiece for other celebrations like Jidai Matsuri. Kids can help prepare by forming the sushi rice balls and wrapping them with nori.