Niboshi
Encyclopedia
Niboshi are Japan
ese dried baby sardine
s (sometimes 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 food
s.
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 and makes a popular 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 for New Year) are made by frying the dried sardines and then adding a mixture of shoyu
, sugar
, mirin
, and roasted white sesame seeds. Korean fried sardines often include small amounts of ginger, garlic, and chili paste as well.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese dried baby sardine
Sardine
Sardines, or pilchards, are several types of small, oily fish related to herrings, family Clupeidae. Sardines are named after the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, around which they were once abundant....
s (sometimes translated as anchovies
Anchovy
Anchovies are a family of small, common salt-water forage fish. There are 144 species in 17 genera, found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Anchovies are usually classified as an oily fish.-Description:...
). They are one of many varieties of small dried fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
used throughout Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
in snacks and as seasoning for soup
Soup
Soup is a generally warm food that is made by combining ingredients such as meat and vegetables with stock, juice, water, or another liquid. Hot soups are additionally characterized by boiling solid ingredients in liquids in a pot until the flavors are extracted, forming a broth.Traditionally,...
stocks and other food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
s.
In Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, niboshi dashi
Dashi
Dashi is a class of soup and cooking stock, considered fundamental to Japanese cooking. In 1980, Shizuo Tsuji wrote: "Many substitutes for dashi are possible, but without dashi, dishes are merely à la japonaise and lack the authentic flavor." Dashi forms the base for miso soup, clear broth, noodle...
is one of the more common forms of dashi. It is especially popular as the base stock when making miso soup
Miso soup
is a traditional Japanese soup consisting of a stock called "dashi" into which is mixed softened miso paste. Many ingredients are added depending on regional and seasonal recipes, and personal preference.-Miso paste:...
. Niboshi dashi is made by soaking niboshi in plain water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
. If left overnight or brought nearly to a boil, the flavor of the small sardines permeates the water and makes a popular stock.
Niboshi are also cooked and served as snacks and as one of the symbolic foods making up the Japanese osechi
Osechi
Osechi-ryōri are traditional Japanese New Year foods. The tradition started in the Heian Period . Osechi are easily recognizable by their special boxes called jūbako , which resemble bentō boxes...
during New Year
New Year
The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
. Tazukuri (fried sweet and savory sardines for New Year) are made by frying the dried sardines and then adding a mixture of shoyu
Soy sauce
Soy sauce is a condiment produced by fermenting soybeans with Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus sojae molds, along with water and salt...
, sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
, mirin
Mirin
is an essential condiment used in Japanese cuisine, consisting of 40%–50% sugar. It is a kind of rice wine similar to sake, but with a lower alcohol content—14% instead of 20%. There are three general types. The first is hon mirin , which contains alcohol. The second is shio mirin, which contains...
, and roasted white sesame seeds. Korean fried sardines often include small amounts of ginger, garlic, and chili paste as well.
External links
- Korean Sweet Dried Anchovy Condiment at Recipehound.com