Food that is indispensable for Japanese breakfast.
A sticky thread comes out.
Natto with a unique smell.
It is one of the washoku that Japan is proud of.
As a Japanese, I will teach you how to eat natto deliciously.
Do you know what natto is made of?
I will also teach you how to make natto.
Introducing various natto dishes that can be eaten in Japan.
Introducing places where you can buy natto.
There are many pictures of natto.
Some photos are amazing.
History of natto
There are various theories about the origin of natto.
There is a theory that it originated 2000 years ago and a theory that it originated 1000 years ago.
Natto was made in straw as shown in the picture.
Natto has been widely eaten by the general public in Japan since 400 years ago.
At that time, natto was mainly a winter food.
300 years ago, it became available all year round and became a standard breakfast menu for the common people.
How to make natto
Natto is made from soybeans.
First, wash the soybeans and soak them in water overnight.
Then steam the soybeans.
Next, add natto bacteria to ferment soybeans.
After fermentation, natto is ready.
Soybeans are the raw material for making tofu.
The true identity of natto sticky
The sticky natto is a sugar called glutamic acid and fructan, which are a kind of amino acids.
The sticky thread of natto is strong, and there are experiments in which the thread did not break for more than 20 m.
It is also effective for health and has the effect of increasing the absorption of calcium.
Kind of natto
Whole-bean natto
It is natto that Japanese people usually eat, made by boiling whole soybeans and fermenting them with natto bacteria.
Since the soybean grains remain as they are, you can enjoy the plump texture and texture of the beans.
Most of the natto sold in Japan is Whole-bean natto.
Crushed natto
Crushed natto is made by roasting soybeans, grinding them roughly, removing the skin from the surface, and then boiling them.
The taste and flavor are a little different from Whole-bean natto.
You can feel the umami of natto more.
It has no skin, so it has a sticky and smooth texture.
How to eat natto
Natto is often eaten with soy sauce.
In addition, sugar, green onions, mustard, etc. may be added.
You can eat natto as it is, but if you stir it, the taste will increase.
It seems that the most delicious taste comes out when you stir 400 times.
Natto has a strong umami taste, so it goes well with rice.
Japanese people often eat natto over rice.
Japanese people eat natto with chopsticks, but you can also eat natto with a spoon.
Natto dishes
There are various dishes using natto in Japan.
Natto roll
Natto is also used for Washoku’s representative sushi.
Natto roll is sushi made by wrapping natto with vinegared rice and seaweed.
The taste of natto, vinegared rice and seaweed is delicious.
Do not remove the black seaweed.
It is said to have originated about 50 years ago.
Most of the natto used for natto rolls is crushed natto.
Natto spaghetti
Natto goes well with spaghetti.
Natto spaghetti has many soy sauce-based sauces.
Contains various toppings such as seaweed, green onions, and cod roe.
This topping makes the taste of natto and spaghetti even more delicious.
There is also natto spaghetti, which is topped with okra and yam to make it even more sticky.
Natto omelette
Adding raw eggs to natto makes it mellow and eliminates the natto odor, making it very easy to eat.
Natto and eggs go well together, so it’s delicious as an omelet.
Natto omelet is a snack for sake.
Natto omelets can be eaten at izakaya.
Some izakaya do not offer natto omelets, so it’s a good idea to check in advance.
Natto omelette goes well with beer.
Natto toast
Natto toast is baked by sprinkling natto and cheese on bread.
Cheese is the same fermented food as natto, so it goes well with natto.
Natto toast is rarely offered at the store.
People who like natto often make it at home.
Where to buy natto
Supermarket, convenience store
Natto is always sold at supermarkets and convenience stores in Japan.
One pack costs about 100 to 200 yen.
There are 3 containers containing natto in 1 pack.
In addition to natto, the container contains natto sauce and mustard.
Sprinkle this sauce on natto and mix it to eat.
You can add mustard as you like.
There are also natto specialty stores, but it is difficult to find because there are only a few.
The charm of natto
Natto has been around for a long time in Japan.
Although people like and dislike the unique smell, it is a healthy food rich in protein and vitamins.
I think it’s worth trying natto once.
Natto and tofu are made from the same ingredients.
The taste is completely different, so it’s interesting to compare them.
Why don’t you try the mysterious Washoku natto?
Thank you for reading to the end.
I hope this article has helped you.
Other articles are also interesting, so please read them.