肉(にく)じゃが

Etymology

肉(にく) (meat) + じゃが (potato, from じゃがいも) → meat and potatoes

Related words

• 牛肉(ぎゅうにく) or 豚肉(ぶたにく) (beef or pork, varies by region)
• じゃがいも (potatoes)
• 玉(たま)ねぎ (onions)
• Sometimes: にんじん (carrots), しらたき (konnyaku noodles)

RELATED WORDS (seasonings):

• 醤油(しょうゆ) (soy sauce)
• 砂糖(さとう) (sugar)
• みりん (sweet cooking sake)
• 酒(さけ) (sake)
• 出汁(だし) (dashi broth)

Cultural note

肉(にく)じゃが is considered the quintessential Japanese home-cooked dish, often associated with "お袋(ふくろ)の味(あじ)" (mother's cooking). It's often listed as a dish men want their girlfriends or wives to be able to make.
The meat varies by region: 豚肉(ぶたにく) (pork) is typical in Kanto, 牛肉(ぎゅうにく) (beef) in Kansai.