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.
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