Welcome to the JOC Cooking Challenge!
We’re so so excited to finally bring this to reality. This is the space for anyone—beginner cook or expert—looking to expand their culinary repertoire, particularly in Japanese cuisine.
What is JOC Cooking Challenge
It’s a quarterly online event on Just One Cookbook where I share a new recipe for you to cook at home. After you make the dish, take a picture and then share the recipe photo with us!
Our goals:
- To help develop your skills and confidence in Japanese cooking
- To build a positive community for anyone who is interested in Japanese food and culture
- To inspire creativity, family bonding, and fun in the kitchen
The JOC Cooking Challenge months are March, June, September, and December. And please help spread the word of the Challenge to your family and friends too!
The Cooking Challenge Prize
Everyone who participates in the JOC Cooking Challenge and sends us the recipe photo via email is automatically entered into the prize draw.
This contest is open to everyone worldwide. We randomly select 3 winners at the end of the JOC Cooking Challenge month. Each winner will receive a $100 Amazon gift card.
Please note that we will not judge based on the creations, but you need to make sure your submission meets the scope of the recipe. Yes, it is like a lucky draw!
How to Join JOC Cooking Challenge
- Recipe: We publish a post with a new challenge recipe on the 1st of every quarterly month (March, June, September, December).
- Cook: Cook the recipe during that month.
- Send: Send your recipe photo to us via email (contest@justonecookbook.com) before 12 pm PST on the last day of the month. This counts as an automatic entry for your chance to win the prize (only one entry per person). Feel free to include any funny moments, kitchen mishaps, or difficulties that you come across during the process. We’d love to hear your stories!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my photo multiple times for more entries? No. Sharing your photo multiple times counts as one entry.
How do you choose a winner? We keep track of the entries and use a random number generator (random.org) to select 3 winners at the end of the month’s JOC Cooking Challenge month. Please note that we will not judge based on the creations, but you need to make sure your submission meets the scope of the recipe. Yes, it is like a lucky draw!
When are the winners announced? We randomly pick the winners the following week after the challenge has ended and announce the winners at the end of the month’s JOC Cooking Challenge post, as well as in the Friday Newsletter.
Is it okay to use substitutions? Yes, I understand you may need to modify ingredients based on your dietary restriction or availability of the ingredients. As long as you follow the general recipe instructions, your entry is accepted.
I’m new to Japanese cuisine but love to participate. Do you have any beginner resources? Yes, we have some helpful pages:
- Cooking Tips for Beginners
- Buy Japanese Ingredients Online
- 26 Pantry ingredients to Add to Your Shopping List
- Ingredient Substitutions for Japanese Cooking
The Past Cooking Challenge & Recipes
- March 2022 – Mosaic Sushi
- June/July 2022 – Shokupan (Japanese Milk Bread)
- September 2022 – Shio Ramen
- December 2022 – Purin (Japanese Custard Pudding)
- March 2023 – The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House
- May/June 2023 – TBA
