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
YES YES YES……. I AM DOING THIS! I love to cook and Japanese food is my favorite cuisine. (my family gets a little annoyed sometimes) since I am a 100% white girl *not at heart. ^^ I am hoping to move to Japan after college. i cannot wait to do this!
Hi Julia! Good luck! We look forward to your creations!
Hello Nami! I sent my photo for the contest, it was a lot of fun making this recipe! 🙂 Is it ok to share the photo on our own social meadia too? or should we wait for the end of the contest? thanks! 🙂
Hi Vedrana! Sure please do!
Wow love challenges! Definitely taking part in this one!
Thanks Miya! Good luck!
This is the first time I made sushi from scratch rather than with the Sushinoko mix. Your recipe turned out to be so wonderful! I was inspired to try the Mosaic Sushi for Hinamatsuri! Thanks for your wonderful work! I knew you were legitimate when you used Ibonoito somen. My mother only used Ibonoito and nothing else.
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the Mosaic Sushi recipe. Thank you for your kind feedback! Yes, Ibonoito is the best! I’m so happy we now can get them in my local Japanese market!
So. many yummy recipes that I have tried!
Thank you Michael!
Wow! This is all so exciting. I love Japanese food and especially cooking/preparing the dishes!! Very fond of JOC recipes & techniques you present. Looking forward to the challenges!
Wonderful! Looking forward to your creations, Maria!
I’m so excited for the start of this challenge! Thanks!!
We’re excited too! Looking forward to doing this with you!
Hi Nami: depending on how challenging the recipe, I am interested. One question…I know you will be using a random number generator, but other than that, will there be other criteria…I assume it will be all presentation, as you will not be able to taste or smell via email (maybe one day…ha). Thanks
Hi Kurtis! I won’t be making it as a real cooking contest. I’m an ordinary home cook, just like you guys and I have no intention to judge what you make. The winners will be drawn randomly. We’ll of course check if the winners made the challenging recipe (we will disqualify if it’s completely different thing). We accept food made with accessible ingredients, modified ingredients due to dietary needs, etc. This is a fun community event, where we all make the same recipe together with people around the world.
I’m in! Looking forward to trying new Japanese recipes!
This will be fun!
Awesome! Looking forward to your entry, Sharon!
Is it open worldwide? I will still probably make the recipe, anyway 😀
Yes! Worldwide! Thanks for making my recipes!
How fun! Can’t wait to participate!
Yay! We look forward to your entry!
Since I moved to a new city, I was just cooking miso soups, so I hope the challenge will motivate me. Perfect timing, I bought basic Japanese ingredients I was missing two days ago, so I will try to participate in the challenge.
Hi Adrian! we look forward to your entry!
Hi, Namiko. I always read your emails and FB posts to find new Japanese recipes to try. My pantry is stocked with lots of the ingredients needed for Asian cooking.. Your recipes are so precise and fun to make, so I’m looking forward to trying the March JOC Challenge. Thank you and take care.
Hi Minette! That’s wonderful! I’m so happy to hear that and I look forward to your challenge entry!
This has me so excited. I cannot wait to start cooking.
Yay! We look forward to your entry!
Where do I go for the recipe challenge?
Hi Doris! Our first cooking challenge is March 1st! Come back to the website for the recipe!