It's a Japanese custom to eat nanakusa-gayu (seven-herb rice porridge) on January 7th, praying for good health. Seven harbs include seri (water dropwort), nazuna (Shepherd's purse), gogyou (Cudweed), hakobera (Chickweed), hotokenoza (Nipplewort), suzuna (turnip), and suzushiro (daikon). Okayu is easy to digest, so nanakusa-gayu is a good meal to eat after holiday feasts. Seven herbs are sold at supermarkets in Japan, but they might not be available in your areas. Try making okayu with vegetables such as daikon, turnip, and so on.

Okayu Recipe

Japanese Rice

Japanese Rice Recipes
_{Nanakusa-gayu Photo © Setsuko Yoshizuka, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Zoni is Japanese mochi (rice cake) soup which is a traditional Japanese New Year's food. Actually, zoni recipes vary from region to region and from family to family. This is my family zoni recipe with grilled mochi.

Zoni Recipe

Mochi
_{Zoni Photo © Setsuko Yoshizuka, licensed to About.com.}

Soba (buckwheat noodles) eaten on New Year's Eve is called toshikoshi (year-bridging) soba in Japan. It is a Japanese custom to eat soba on New Year's Eve since soba has the meaning of longevity. Toshikoshi soba can be served cold or hot as you like. My family eats simple zaru soba some time before midnight on New Year's Eve.

Zaru Soba Recipe

Hot Tsukimi Soba Recipe

Japanese Noodle Recipes
_{Zaru Soba Photo © Setsuko Yoshizuka, licensed to About.com}

As Japanese recipes are becoming more popular in the world, people look for various Japanese recipes. I am glad to know that Japanese food are loved by lots of poeple. What do you think are the most requested Japanese recipes in my site?
Top 10 Requested Recipes of 2008