Get my full 5-day Osechi Ryori cooking timeline to plan a scrumptious and stress-free Japanese New Yr feast. I’ll present you what to arrange every day so you possibly can keep organized and benefit from the vacation with ease. You’ll additionally discover a useful prep information with ideas for planning and procuring within the weeks main as much as Japanese New Yr.
Fast Overview
The Japanese begin the New Yr celebration with osechi ryori (おせち料理), a particular feast loved on New Yr’s Day. These conventional dishes symbolize luck and longevity and are superbly packed in a lacquered, 3-tiered jubako field.
It takes loads of effort and time to arrange an osechi unfold, and Japanese dwelling cooks spend the final a number of days of the yr prepping and cooking. To make your personal expertise smoother, I’m right here to share my 5-day osechi cooking timeline and ideas.
Having a plan helps me really feel extra organized and fewer overwhelmed! On this put up, I’ll share:
- my osechi menu and recipes – decide and select what you make vs. purchase to fit your schedule and life-style.
- a 4-week schedule of duties for procuring, cleansing, and planning forward throughout the month of December.
- my 5-day cooking timeline resulting in the massive day!
- my greatest ideas to handle the cooking workload and scale back stress so you possibly can you get pleasure from this stunning custom.
A 4-Week Prep Information
There’s loads which you could put together within the weeks main as much as New Yr’s Day. Observe this planning information beginning 4 weeks earlier than Japanese New Yr (JNY) to remain organized. It outlines a schedule of duties for procuring, cleansing, and getting every part prepared forward of time.
Dec. 1 (4 Weeks Earlier than JNY)
Make a tough plan
- 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.
- Evaluation and replace your recipes from the earlier yr.
- Be lifelike and prepare dinner a manageable variety of dishes. Begin small, and add 1–2 new dishes annually to regularly construct your menu. Above all, benefit from the course of.
When you’re new to osechi, think about the beginner-friendly recipes marked with an asterisk (*)—they use easy methods, in order that they’re a fantastic place to start out.
- Ikura (Salmon Roe) いくら
- Ornamental Fish Truffles (Kamaboko) 市松かまぼこ
- Candy Rolled Omelette (Datemaki) 伊達巻
- Salmon Kombu Roll (Kobumaki) 鮭の昆布巻き
- * Candied Chestnut and Candy Potatoes (Kuri Kinton) 栗きんとん
- Candied Sardines (Tazukuri) 田作り
- * Daikon & Carrot Salad (Namasu or Kohaku Namasu) 紅白なます
- * Candy Black Soybeans (Kuromame) 黒豆
- Herring Roe (Kazunoko) 数の子
- Simmered Shrimp (Ebi no Umani) えびのうま煮
- * Yellowtail Teriyaki (Buri no Teriyaki) ぶりの照り焼き
- Butter Soy Sauce Scallops (Hotate no Butter Shoyu Yaki) 帆立のバター醤油焼き
- Pickled Chrysanthemum Turnip (Kikka Kabu) 菊花かぶ
- Pickled Lotus Root (Su Renkon) 酢れんこん
- Pounded Burdock Root with Sesame Sauce (Tataki Gobo) たたきごぼう
- * Simmered Hen and Greens (Chikuzenni) 筑前煮 or On the spot Pot Nishime 煮しめ
- * Ozoni – Japanese New Yr mochi soup: Kansai-style or Kanto-style (an accompaniment to osechi; non-compulsory)
Dec. eleventh (3 Weeks Earlier than)
Verify your stock
- Verify kitchen tools: Collect osechi packing containers (jubako), serving dishes, cutlery, pots and pans, storage containers—instruments you’ll want for cooking and serving.
- Manage the pantry and verify elements: See what dry items, condiments, and garnish leaves you have got and make an inventory of what to purchase.
- Buy osechi field dividers: Bamboo leaves and mini containers are useful; learn my Pack Osechi Ryori put up to study why.
- Order any lacking gadgets early, as vacation transport might be gradual.
Dec. 18th (2 Weeks Earlier than)
- Plan your structure: Use sticky notes to mark what dish goes the place within the jubako. This simplifies meals packing on New Yr’s Day.
- Print or bookmark the recipes: Learn by the steps and observe the elements and tools you will want.
Purchasing journey #1
Don’t wait until the final minute, as they might promote out!
- Buy dry elements:
- Purchase elements for accompaniment dishes (non-compulsory):
Dec. twenty seventh (5 Days Earlier than)
Clear the home
- Clear the home: Clear the entry, lounge, and loos.
- Make room within the fridge for groceries, ready dishes, and packed packing containers.
- Plan out your meals by December thirty first: I make straightforward scorching pots (Sukiyaki, Shabu Shabu, and Oden) for dinner and udon noodles for lunch.
Purchasing journey #2
- Replenish on common groceries:
- eggs (put aside some for candy rolled omelette)
- milk, bread, salad, and fruit for the week.
- Purchase alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
- Purchase root greens for osechi: This stuff last more, so buy them early:
- Japanese candy potato (Satsumaimo) for candied chestnuts & candy potatoes
- carrots for daikon and carrot salad and simmered rooster & greens
- gobo (burdock root) for pounded burdock root and simmered rooster & greens
- lotus root (renkon) for pickled lotus root
- satoimo (Japanese taro) for simmered rooster & greens
- konnyaku (konjac) for simmered rooster & greens
- daikon (Japanese radish) for daikon & carrot salad
- Japanese turnips (kabu) for pickled chrysanthemum turnip.
- Tip: Minimize off the leaves of daikon and turnips to stop them from drying out.
5-Day Osechi Cooking Timeline
Right here is your 5-day osechi cooking countdown beginning 4 days earlier than the Japanese New Yr (JNY) and ending on the massive day!
In Japan, most households pack the osechi into the jubako on the thirty first and preserve it within the fridge in a single day. On New Yr’s Day, you merely deliver it to room temperature and luxuriate in—no cooking wanted.
Nevertheless, with my 5-Day Osechi Cooking Plan, you’ll have about 3 hours of cooking and packing to do on January 1. I personally wish to grill or reheat a couple of dishes on New Yr’s Day, then allow them to cool earlier than packing for one of the best taste. Please be happy to regulate the steps to fit your personal routine.
Dec. twenty eighth (4 Days Earlier than JNY)
Cooking day 1 + proceed cleansing
- Begin cooking!
- Make Candied Sardines: Begin with this recipe, because it’s one of many most lasting amongst all osechi dishes.
- Make Herring Roe: De-salt, peel, and marinate.
- Clear the home (continued): Clear the eating room and kitchen.
Dec. twenty ninth (3 Days Earlier than)
Purchasing journey #3 (closing)
- Purchase contemporary elements (closing procuring journey #3): Don’t purchase these contemporary proteins and greens previous to December twenty ninth.
- black tiger shrimp for simmered shrimp
- yellowtail (hamachi/buri 鰤) for yellowtail teriyaki
- salted salmon for salmon kombu rolls (or make Salted Salmon the earlier week)
- ikura (salmon roe)
- rooster for ozoni and simmered rooster & greens
- kamaboko fish desserts (pink and white)
- hanpen fish cake for candy rolled omelette
- snow peas for simmered rooster & greens
- mitsuba (Japanese wild parsley) for ozoni
- yuzu for daikon & carrot salad and ozoni
Cooking day 2
- Work on ornamental cuts: Put together flower-shaped carrots and lotus root and retailer within the fridge; it’s not obligatory however provides a particular contact to your dishes.
- Make vinegared dishes: Dishes in vinegar final a very long time, so prepare dinner them subsequent!
- Retailer all dishes: Pack in hermetic containers and retailer within the fridge.
- Rehydrate elements:
- Soak dried shiitake mushrooms earlier than mattress for chikuzenni.
- Soak black soybeans as much as 8 hours; soak at midnight and begin cooking at 8 am on December thirtieth.
Dec. thirtieth (2 Days Earlier than)
Dec. thirty first (1 Day Earlier than)
Cooking day 4
- Cook dinner extra simmered dishes:
- Make grilled dishes (or make the subsequent morning):
- Prep ozoni:
- Minimize the kamaboko: Minimize the ornamental fish cake and candy omelette.
- Retailer all dishes: Pack in hermetic containers and preserve within the fridge.
- Make Toshikoshi Soba: Don’t overlook to eat soba noodles at the moment on New Yr’s Eve!
Earlier than going to mattress…
- Set the desk: Arrange plates, chopsticks, glasses, sake cups, and many others.
- Chill your drinks: Make sure that there’s sufficient ice within the freezer.
January 1st (Oshogatsu)
Cooking day 5 (2.5–3 hours)
- Grill: When you didn’t make it yesterday, prepare dinner Yellowtail Teriyaki and Butter Soy Sauce Scallops and funky to room temp (scorching meals can injury lacquerware and create condensation, which result in spoilage).
- Carry meals to room temp: If you do not need to eat chilly meals, take out the dishes from the fridge about half-hour previous to packing. By the point you benefit from the dishes, they need to be room temp.
- Pack in osechi packing containers: See my step-by-step information on Pack Osechi Ryori in jubako.
- Put together the mochi: Toast mochi and season.
- End the ozoni: Reheat after which add miso (for Kansai-style) and mochi.
- Put together the drinks: Warmth up sake and put together different drinks.
- Clear up the kitchen: You probably have time or a useful visitor, clear the sink and run the dishwasher.
Your Important 5-Half Guides to Japanese New Yr
- Final Information to Osechi Ryori (Japanese New Yr’s Meals)
- Conventional Osechi Ryori Recipes for Your Japanese New Yr Feast
- Osechi Cooking Timeline
- Pack Osechi Ryori in 3-Tier Containers
- What’s Japanese New Yr – Oshogatsu?
Now you have got an in depth cooking timeline and one of the best ideas for osechi cooking! Pleasant reminder: Don’t be shy to enlist assist from your loved ones members, mates, and youngsters.
I’m wishing you all one of the best as you put together probably the most significant meal of the yr.
You probably have any questions in any respect, please go away a message within the feedback under. We’re right here that can assist you!
Editor’s Observe: This put up was initially revealed on December 17, 2019, and was republished with extra useful data on December 8, 2025.
