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Niboshi
Niboshi (煮干し), often called iriko (炒り子) in Western Japan, are Japanese dried infant sardines (sometimes incorrectly translated as anchovies). They are one of many varieties of small dried fish used throughout Asia in snacks and as seasoning for soup stocks and other foods. In Japan, ''niboshi dashi'' is one of the more common forms of dashi. It is especially popular as the base stock when making miso soup. Niboshi dashi is made by soaking niboshi in plain water. If left overnight or brought nearly to a boil, the flavor of the small sardines permeates the water to make the stock. Niboshi are also cooked and served as snacks and as one of the symbolic foods making up the Japanese osechi during New Year. Tazukuri (fried sweet and savory sardines) are made by frying the dried sardines and then adding a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and roasted white sesame seeds. File:Driedniboshi.jpg, Dried niboshi File:Niboshi, called Iriko in Hawaii.jpg, Called iriko in H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dried Fish
Fresh fish rapidly deteriorates unless some way can be found to preserve it. Drying is a method of food preservation that works by removing water from the food, which inhibits the growth of microorganisms. Open air drying using sun and wind has been practiced since ancient times to preserve food."Historical Origins of Food Preservation." Accessed June 2011. Water is usually removed by (air drying, sun drying, smoking or wind drying) but, in the case of , food is first [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dashi
is a family of stocks used in Japanese cuisine. ''Dashi'' forms the base for miso soup, clear broth soup, noodle broth soup, and many simmering liquids to accentuate the savory flavor known as umami. ''Dashi'' is also mixed into the flour base of some grilled foods like okonomiyaki and takoyaki. Preparation The most common form of ''dashi'' is a simple broth made by heating water containing '' kombu'' (edible kelp) and '' kezurikatsuo'' (shavings of ''katsuobushi'' – preserved, fermented skipjack tuna or bonito) to near-boiling, then straining the resultant liquid; dried anchovies or sardines may be substituted. The element of umami, one of the five basic tastes, is introduced into ''dashi'' from the use of katsuobushi and kombu. Katsuobushi is especially high in sodium inosinate and kombu is especially high in glutamic acids; both combined create a synergy of umami. Granulated or liquid instant ''dashi'' largely replaced the homemade product in the second half of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Osechi
Osechi-ryōri (御節料理, お節料理 or おせち) are traditional Japanese New Year foods. The tradition started in the Heian period (794–1185). ''Osechi'' are easily recognizable by their special boxes called '' jūbako'' (重箱), which resemble '' bentō'' boxes. Like ''bentō'' boxes, ''jūbako'' are often kept stacked before and after use. Examples of osechi dishes The dishes that make up ''osechi'' each have a special meaning celebrating the New Year. Some examples are: *'' Daidai'' (橙, だいだい), Japanese bitter orange. ''Daidai'' means "from generation to generation" when written in different kanji as 代々. Like ''kazunoko'' below, it symbolizes a wish for children in the New Year. *' (伊達巻 or 伊達巻き or だてまき), sweet rolled omelette mixed with fish paste or mashed shrimp. They symbolize a wish for many auspicious days. On auspicious days (晴れの日, ''hare-no-hi''), Japanese people traditionally wear fine clothing as a part of enjoy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sardine
"Sardine" and "pilchard" are common names for various species of small, oily forage fish in the herring family Clupeidae. The term "sardine" was first used in English during the early 15th century, a folk etymology says it comes from the Italian island of Sardinia, around which sardines were once supposedly abundant. The terms "sardine" and "pilchard" are not precise, and what is meant depends on the region. The United Kingdom's Sea Fish Industry Authority, for example, classifies sardines as young pilchards. One criterion suggests fish shorter in length than are sardines, and larger fish are pilchards. The FAO/ WHO Codex standard for canned sardines cites 21 species that may be classed as sardines. FishBase, a comprehensive database of information about fish, calls at least six species "pilchard", over a dozen just "sardine", and many more with the two basic names qualified by various adjectives. Etymology 'Sardine' first appeared in English in the 15th century, a loa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Japanese Cuisine
Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan, which have developed through centuries of political, economic, and social changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan ( Japanese: ) is based on rice with miso soup and other dishes; there is an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Side dishes often consist of fish, pickled vegetables, and vegetables cooked in broth. Seafood is common, often grilled, but also served raw as sashimi or in sushi. Seafood and vegetables are also deep-fried in a light batter, as '. Apart from rice, a staple includes noodles, such as soba and udon. Japan also has many simmered dishes, such as fish products in broth called , or beef in and . Historically influenced by Chinese cuisine, Japanese cuisine has also opened up to influence from Western cuisines in the modern era. Dishes inspired by foreign food—in particular Chinese food—like ramen and , as well as foods like spaghetti, curry and hamburgers, have been adapted ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mirin
is a type of rice wine and a common ingredient in Japanese cooking. It is similar to sake but with a lower alcohol content and higher sugar content. The sugar content is a complex carbohydrate that forms naturally during the fermentation process; no sugars are added. The alcohol content is further lowered when the liquid is heated. Three types of mirin are common. The first is ''hon mirin'' (literally: true mirin), which contains about 14% alcohol and is produced by a 40 to 60 day mashing ( saccharification) process. The second is ''shio mirin'' (literally: salt mirin), which contains a minimum of 1.5% salt to prevent consumption in order to avoid alcohol tax. The third is ''shin mirin'' (literally: new mirin), or ''mirin-fu chomiryo'' (literally: mirin-like seasoning), which contains less than 1% alcohol, yet retains the same flavor. In the Edo period, mirin was consumed as '' amazake''. O-toso, traditionally consumed for the Japanese New Year, can be made by soaking a sp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sugar
Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or double sugars, are molecules made of two bonded monosaccharides; common examples are sucrose (glucose + fructose), lactose (glucose + galactose), and maltose (two molecules of glucose). White sugar is a refined form of sucrose. In the body, compound sugars are hydrolysed into simple sugars. Longer chains of monosaccharides (>2) are not regarded as sugars, and are called oligosaccharides or polysaccharides. Starch is a glucose polymer found in plants, the most abundant source of energy in human food. Some other chemical substances, such as glycerol and sugar alcohols, may have a sweet taste, but are not classified as sugar. Sugars are found in the tissues of most plants. Honey and fruits are abundant natural sources of simple su ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce (also called simply soy in American English and soya sauce in British English) is a liquid condiment of Chinese origin, traditionally made from a fermented paste of soybeans, roasted grain, brine, and ''Aspergillus oryzae'' or '' Aspergillus sojae'' molds. It is considered to contain a strong umami taste. Soy sauce in its current form was created about 2,200 years ago during the Western Han dynasty of ancient China, and it has spread throughout East and Southeast Asia where it is used in cooking and as a condiment. Use and storage Soy sauce can be added directly to food, and is used as a dip or salt flavor in cooking. It is often eaten with rice, noodles, and sushi or sashimi, or can also be mixed with ground wasabi for dipping. Bottles of soy sauce for salty seasoning of various foods are common on restaurant tables in many countries. Soy sauce can be stored at room temperature. History East Asia China Soy sauce (, ) is considered almost as old as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New Year
New Year is the time or day currently at which a new calendar year begins and the calendar's year count increments by one. Many cultures celebrate the event in some manner. In the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar system today, New Year occurs on January 1 ( New Year's Day, preceded by New Year's Eve). This was also the first day of the year in the original Julian calendar and the Roman calendar (after 153 BC). Other cultures observe their traditional or religious New Year's Day according to their own customs, typically (though not invariably) because they use a lunar calendar or a lunisolar calendar. Chinese New Year, the Islamic New Year, Tamil New Year ( Puthandu), and the Jewish New Year are among well-known examples. India, Nepal, and other countries also celebrate New Year on dates according to their own calendars that are movable in the Gregorian calendar. During the Middle Ages in Western Europe, while the Julian calendar was still in use ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Miso Soup
is a traditional Japanese soup consisting of a dashi stock into which softened miso paste is mixed. In addition, there are many optional ingredients (various vegetables, tofu, '' abura-age'', etc.) that may be added depending on regional and seasonal recipes, and personal preference. In Japanese food culture, ''Miso'' soup is a representative of soup dishes served with rice. Miso soup is also called . Along with ''suimono'' (clear soup seasoned with a small amount of soy sauce and salt in a dashi stock), miso soup is considered to be one of the two basic soup types of Japanese cuisine. Miso paste The type of ''miso'' paste chosen for the soup defines a great deal of its character and flavor. ''Miso'' pastes (a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and the fungus '' Aspergillus oryzae'', known in Japanese as ' (麹菌), and sometimes rice, barley, or other ingredients) can be categorized into red (''akamiso''), white (''shiromiso''), or ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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