Ring within the new 12 months with my Final Information to Osechi Ryori (Japanese New 12 months meals)! Every conventional dish carries a particular want, and households take pleasure in this colourful feast—packed into three-tiered containers—to welcome well being, happiness, and prosperity within the 12 months forward. On this information, you’ll be taught the meanings behind the dishes, how trendy households customise osechi, and my finest ideas for making ready this most vital meal of the 12 months.
Fast Overview
After I was rising up in Japan, I may hardly wait to open the gorgeous osechi containers on New 12 months’s Day (Oshogatsu), ready with such care by three generations of ladies in my household. Every dish has a particular that means, and we loved the flavors and colours whereas wishing for a vivid 12 months forward.
Now, I share these conventional Japanese New 12 months meals with my family. I’m excited that can assist you create your personal osechi unfold at residence, irrespective of the place you reside. On this put up, you’ll be taught:
- the that means and desires behind the most well-liked osechi dishes;
- why we pack osechi in 3-tiered jubako containers;
- methods to customise osechi for busy schedules and native substances; and
- my finest ideas for a stress-free osechi expertise!
What’s Osechi Ryori?
Osechi (お節, おせち) or osechi ryori (お節料理) is the Japanese New 12 months feast and a very powerful meal of the 12 months.
The custom began greater than 1,000 years in the past within the Heian interval as a celebratory meal provided to the gods at seasonal court docket ceremonies. Over time, the observe unfold to on a regular basis households, and by the late Edo interval, it grew to become the New 12 months feast we all know at present.
Every conventional osechi dish carries symbolic that means tied to its identify, shade, ingredient, or form. The meals are packed in multi-tiered lacquered containers referred to as jubako that additionally symbolize success.
All of the dishes are ready upfront and eaten through the first three days of the New 12 months, referred to as san-ga-nichi. Households take pleasure in it to welcome the brand new 12 months and relaxation from cooking.
Osechi Dishes & Their Meanings
Each dish is an edible good-luck appeal. From kuromame for well being to kazunoko for fertility, every meals carries a symbolic that means and displays the hopes and desires for the approaching 12 months.
Listed below are the hottest osechi dishes and their meanings:
- Japanese Candy Rolled Omelette (datemaki) – information, studying, success in research
- Candy Black Soybeans (kuromame) – good well being
- Herring Roe (kazunoko) – fertility and a rising, affluent household
- Candied Chestnuts and Candy Potatoes (kuri kinton) – wealth and monetary fortune
- Daikon and Carrot Salad (namasu) – celebration
- Candied Anchovies (tazukuri) – a bountiful harvest
- Salmon Kombu Rolls (kobu maki) – youth, lengthy life, and happiness (sounds just like the Japanese phrase for pleasure, yorokobu)
- Ornamental Fish Cake (kamaboko) – purity, fending off evil, and the primary dawn of the brand new 12 months
- Pickled Lotus Root (su renkon) – good imaginative and prescient and looking out forward
- Pickled Chrysanthemum Turnips (kikka kabu) – longevity; celebration
- Pounded Burdock Root (tataki gobo) – household and residential stability
- Simmered Taro (satoimo nishime) – household prosperity
- Simmered Hen and Greens (chikuzenni/nishime) – success and long-lasting happiness
- Immediate Pot Nishime – success and long-lasting happiness
- Simmered Shrimp – lengthy life
- Complete Baked Sea Bream (tai) – good luck
- Yellowtail Teriyaki (buri no teriyaki) – success as you develop by means of life
- Butter Soy Sauce Scallops (hotate yaki) – success and a vivid, affluent future
How Do Fashionable Households Get pleasure from Osechi?
Many households nonetheless make osechi from scratch, however it’s additionally widespread to purchase ready-made units from supermarkets, shops, and inns. This contemporary method makes it straightforward to maintain the custom alive, even with busy schedules. An increasing number of households additionally personalize their osechi to match their tastes and life-style.
Listed below are some easy and enjoyable methods to take pleasure in osechi at present:
- Serve the dishes in mini jubako containers, single-portion plates, or on one giant platter.
- Combine store-bought dishes together with your do-it-yourself favorites.
- Add Western-inspired and fusion dishes like roast rooster, roast beef, or smoked salmon.
- Swap native substances which might be out there the place you reside (yellowtail → salmon, burdock → carrots).
- Attempt vegetarian variations utilizing tofu, mushrooms, kombu, carrots, and candy potatoes.
Nami’s Suggestions for Planning Your Osechi
- Determine what to make, purchase, or skip – Cook dinner the dishes your loved ones loves, purchase the labor-intensive ones, and skip something nobody eats. This makes the entire course of extra manageable!
- Be sensible – Maintain the variety of dishes manageable and purpose for what you’ll be able to comfortably make. Give attention to a significant, stress-free expertise quite than perfection.
- Make timeline and plan your menu (4 weeks prior) – Keep organized by making a schedule, utilizing my Osechi Cooking Timeline as a information.
- Verify your stock (3 weeks prior) – Collect jubako, dividers, small bowls, garnish leaves, and dry items. Have giant pots, pans, and storage containers prepared. Order any lacking gadgets early, as vacation transport will be gradual.
- Plan your structure (2 weeks prior) – Make a fast drawing of your jubako and use sticky notes to determine the place every dish will go. It saves a lot time on packing day.
- Begin cooking (5 days prior) – Osechi retains effectively, so cook dinner upfront to handle the workload. Create a schedule with my 5-Day Osechi Cooking Timeline.
- Group comparable duties – Prep substances and cook dinner in batches.
- Cook dinner long-lasting dishes first – Begin with candy or salty dishes, then vinegared dishes, and end with moisture-heavy simmered dishes.
- Make house within the fridge and freezer early on your substances and completed dishes.
- Ask for assist – Let relations organize, chop, or minimize substances—it’s simpler and extra fulfilling! My most valuable osechi reminiscences are cooking along with three generations of ladies—my grandma, my mother and aunties, and me.
- Begin small and construct steadily – As I grew to become extra assured in my cooking, I added one or two new dishes annually to my osechi unfold. Create a model that feels joyful, manageable, and sustainable for your loved ones.
Why Do We Pack Osechi in Jubako Bins?
We usually organize osechi’s colourful dishes in two- or three-tiered lacquer containers referred to as jubako (重箱). Every stacked layer symbolizes “piling up blessings” and the addition of extra happiness and success within the 12 months forward.
Normally, we pack delicate gadgets and small appetizers within the high field. The center tier incorporates grilled and simmered dishes. Lastly, sturdy meals and different simmered dishes go within the backside field.
For the perfect visible presentation, we place dishes of contrasting shade, form, and texture subsequent to one another.
Whereas we regularly comply with a number of conventional tips for packing jubako, don’t fear—they aren’t strict guidelines. It’s extra vital to give attention to the that means and good needs this festive meal represents.
For a detailed, step-by-step tutorial, see my put up The way to Pack Osechi Ryori in 3-Tier Bins.
The way to Retailer Osechi
To retailer: Most osechi dishes will preserve for 2–3 days within the fridge, and a few make-ahead ones will be frozen. My recipes use reasonable seasonings to maintain the flavors genuine, so please keep away from leaving the dishes at room temperature for too lengthy.
Historically, osechi was ready with heavy quantities of sugar, salt, and vinegar so it may final for days with out refrigeration. With trendy fridges, we will take pleasure in lighter, extra balanced flavors—simply be sure you retailer the whole lot correctly.
To reheat: Most osechi dishes are served chilly or at room temperature. In the event you’d wish to heat sure dishes, resembling simmered greens, reheat gently over low warmth or microwave briefly bursts. This helps protect the feel and taste.
FAQs
Osechi is the Japanese New 12 months feast, whereas osechi ryori is the delicacies itself. Each dish carries symbolic that means tied to its identify, shade, ingredient, or form. For instance, Japanese candy rolled omelette represents information and studying whereas candy black soybeans symbolize good well being.
Some households make osechi whereas others buy ready-made units from grocery shops and eating places. Fashionable households will combine store-bought dishes with do-it-yourself gadgets to benefit from the custom even with busy schedules. For a step-by-step plan, see my Osechi Cooking Timeline.
The highest field incorporates delicate gadgets and small appetizers. Subsequent, the center field consists of grilled and simmered dishes. Lastly, sturdy meals and different simmered dishes go within the backside field. For visible presentation, we place dishes of contrasting shade, form, and texture subsequent to one another. For my full information, see The way to Pack Osechi Ryori in 3-Tier Bins.
Whereas stacked containers are conventional, it’s completely high quality to serve on platters. Elements like eggs for omelet or shrimp are straightforward to seek out. Others like herring roe, candied chestnuts, mirin, soy sauce, sake, and dashi are usually discovered at Asian and Japanese grocery shops.
Osechi is eaten through the first three days of the New 12 months, referred to as san-ga-nichi. Households take pleasure in it as a technique to welcome the brand new 12 months, relaxation from cooking, and have a good time with dishes ready upfront.
Prior to now, folks averted consuming sure dishes through the first three days of the New 12 months as a result of osechi was seen as a sacred providing and break from cooking. They avoided beef or pork dishes (to keep away from “taking life”), cooking with fireplace (to let the kitchen fireplace relaxation), utilizing knives (to stop “slicing ties”), and sizzling pot dishes (to keep away from the rising scum referred to as aku—the identical sound as evil). Right this moment, most households now not comply with these guidelines strictly.
Editor’s Word: This put up was initially revealed on June 1, 2015, and up to date on December 27, 2022, and republished on December 2, 2025 with new data.