December 26, 2021

Chikuwa, tube-shaped fish cake

Chikuwa, tube-shaped, broiled fish cake. ちくわ、竹輪

Ingredients are surimi, salt, sugar, starch and egg white. After are made into a paste by mixing them well, then are wrapped around a bamboo or metal rod and steamed or broiled. Chikuwa, "bamboo ring," refers to the shape it has after slicing into smaller rings.


[Chikuwa]


Chikuwa is eaten as follows:
  • As a side dish during lunch or dinner
  • It is also often used as an ingredient for nimono like oden, chikuzenni, chirashizushi, yakisoba, and yasai-itame (vegetable stir fry). 
  • As a snack. In that case the hollow center may also be stuffed with cheese, cucumber or other ingredients. It is delicious with beer or sake!

Chikuwa is a cheap and low-fat source of protein.

Other well-known surimi-based products are kamaboko and satsuma-age.


Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Japanese Food Dictionary