Chikuwa and Kamaboko

Chikuwa is the most simple food. Chikuwa found when an emperor wife’s in a tour to Korea. On the way, they eat dissolved fish and made it into ball form, skewered, and baked. Because the form was similar with Gama – a plant, so it called Gama no ho (Gama fruit), and then became kamaboko. In that time, kamaboko became expensive food and only noble family and emperor soldier can ate them.

In Edo period, kamaboko – finally – can ate by common. But emperor soldier became jealous. In order to keep ate kamaboko, common citizens called it with chikuwa, means can be cut like bamboo slices. And then, chikuwa became famous. But kamaboko still exist, it still kind of chikuwa but has different shape.

Chikuwa made from surimi fish, salt, sugar, starch flour, and white part of egg, and mixed. The dough molded in bamboo or metal mold and steamed.

Chikuwa is one of Japanese favorite food, and almost all over Japan eat it, because chikuwa is low fat, but rich of protein.

You can eat chikuwa uncooked, but it also have good taste if fried or cooked with broth or dressing.

kamaboko