Chikuwa

Chikuwa is a traditional Japanese food which made from ground fish meat seasoned.
Chikuwa is made by wrapping ingredients around a stick, and grilling (some time steam).
It appears in various dish such as simmered dish, deep-fried dish.
And it is also good to mix it to other ingredient as raw, or to eat as raw without seasoning.

We often stuff some ingredients into center hole of Chikuwa such as cucumber.

Main ingredient of Chikuwa is ground fish meat, It is rich in protein and low in fat.

Konnyaku

Konnyaku is a ingredient of Japanese dish.
Konnyaku is a jelly-like food which is made from Konnyaku potato.
It is a little taste, but it has pleasant unique texture.
Usually Konnyaku is eaten as ingredient of simmered dish, or soup.
But some time we slice thinly it and eat as sashimi. (If we buy konnyaku for sashimi)

Konnyaku is also popular as healthy food.
It is low in calorie and rich in fiber.

Photo above is long narrow shaped Konnyaku.
It is called "Shirataki" or "Ito konnyaku".



Photo above is Konnyaku sold in the supermarket.

Hanpen

Hanpen is a ingredient of Japanese dish.
Hanpen is a kind of Surimi which is made from kneaded fish, glutinous yam, and some seasonings.

It has very soft texture, and mild taste.
Usually it is eaten as ingredient of simmered dish such as Oden.
But it is also good to fry it or deep-fry it.

Hanpen is rich in protein and calcium.

Aburaage

Aburaage is an ingredient of Japanese dish.
Aburaage is made by deep-friyng thinly sliced tofu.
It is some time called "Aburage" or "Age.

It is ingredient for various dishes.
For example, miso soup, simmered dish, Inarizushi, etc.

Photo above is aburaage cut to half.

We usually buy it tofu shop or supermarket.

Tokoroten

Tokoroten is a jelly-like long and narrow shaped cold snack.
It is made from Tengusa ( a type of seaweed ) and water.

Tokoroten is not so soft as jelly.
It has pleasant unique texture.

In eastern part of Japan, It is coverd with vinegar-based sauce. ( photo above is Tokoroten covered with vinegar-based sauce )
In western part of Japan, It is covered with sweet syrop.

Tokoroten is low in calorie, and rich in fiber. It is good for diet.

Japanese Fish Sausage

Fish sausage is made from fish meat, lard, some seasoning and some spice.
When I was child, I often ate it insted of sausage and meat.
In these days, fish sausage is popular as healthy food.
Especially, It is rich in calcium and DHA.

Photo above is just stir-fried it on the pan.
I think it is good for Bento.

I think fish sausage is aloso good for ingredient of Yasai Itame , Yakisoba , and so on.

Photo above is fish sausage sold in supermarket.

Natto

Natto is an very very healty food.
It is Japanese traditional food made from fermented soybeans.
It is rich in protein.

We usually put natto into small bowl.
Add mustard and soysauce a little.
Stir it in the bowl. and put it on the rice.
I like this simple way to eat natto.

Natto is full of nutrients.
But it has a strong smell and it is sticky.
I suppose you need a time to be able to eat this.

Natto is not popular in western part of Japan.