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- Funazushi. Some consider funazushi a luxury dish. this weird food in Japan is kind of a fermented carp – taking more than a year to prepare. It’s said that sushi originated from funazushi.
- Natto. Natto is a traditional but unusual food in Japan consisting of fermented beans. It’s slimy with a strong and distinct flavor; it’s also often compared to smelly cheese.
- Motsunabe. Comparable to a stew, Motsunabe is a type of “nabe” or Japanese hot pot. Nabe is a common dish served in the cold winter months and is essentially a mixture of ingredients simmered in one big pot of stew.
- Kujira (Whale Meat)
- Natto, Fermented Soybeans
- Shirako
- Tarako and Mentaiko
- Goya
- Shirouo No Odorigui
- Hachinoko
- Shiokara
- Horumon
- Whale Meat
- Fugu – Puffer Fish
Imagine gooey, slimy, sticky, and well, smelly all rolled into one, in a bowl of food. That is Natto for you. Don’t cringe. Natto is a popular food in Japan but even some Japanese people would not eat it. What's interesting is that it's one of the healthiest foods in Japan. It is made from fermented soybeans, which are then thoroughly mixed with so...
Shirako may look like a bow of brains, but it's actually the sperm sac of fish. I mean, even though it sounds gross, you would be surprised to know that it can be expensive in Japan. It has a buttery or custard-like taste and you may fall in love with it if you don't know that it's a sperm sac. It can be eaten alone or used as toppings in other dis...
This is also known as Pollock Roe in English. Tarako or Mentaiko (Spicy version) is one of the many types of egg-cellent Japanese delights. It is basically a sac of Cod Roe eggs that can be used in many dishes like rice, onigiri, and pasta. Without spices, it's pretty salty but when it is spiced, it has a strong taste. Just one sac can be used to s...
Goya is a bitter gourd or bitter melon. As a vegetable that usually grows in Okinawa, it is popular in that district. What's weird about it is that it's quite bitter, but its health benefits are very attractive. But the benefits of Goya exceed the taste. Goya can aid in weight loss, improve the immune system and even rejuvenates the skin and hair. ...
Just looking at this dish will make you squirm. These small, transparent fish are eaten raw in Japan. The interesting part of this dish is the dancing the fish does when it's in your mouth. Shirouo no odorigui literally means dancing fish in English. It is usually dropped in a cup of vinegar which makes the fish dance even more. This dish is only a...
Usually, we stay away from bees, right? Well, this bee larvae dish brings you super close to bees. Hachinoko is an old Japanese meal that was popular in mountainous areaswhere there was little access to fish. It can be prepared with sugar and soy sauce and then served with rice. At least, you can't deny that it is very proteinous.
After seeing Natto, it's pretty obvious that fermented food is welcomed in Japan. Shiokara is made by fermenting sea animals like squid, salmon, and crab in their viscera and salting it. It has a fishy and salty taste, but the texture is quite slimy so not everyone will be a fan of it. On the bright side, shiokara is quite nutritious and can be tak...
Horumon is made with pigs and cow guts or intestines. Usually, we throw these parts away, but the horumon dish among the Japanese is more of a “throw in” rather than something you throw away. It is pretty popular in Osaka and is usually barbecued with other meats and served hot. You can also boil it in a hot pot with other vegetables and meat. It's...
Whale meat in Japan used to be a big part of Japanese cuisine, but it is currently a specialty meal available in few restaurants. The meat is chewy, thicker than the average fish meat, with a salty taste. The slightly grilled version of it might sound more appealing to you and is said to melt in your mouth. Whale meat is high in protein, and it can...
Why is eating a fish weird, you ask? Well, the pufferfish is so dangerous that it causes paralysis and even death because it contains toxins. Luckily, the poisonous parts of the fish are organs like the eyes, liver, and even testes or ovaries. Fugu is one of the most expensive and most sought-after foods in Japan because preparing it is hard work. ...
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- Fugu. Poisonous blowfish. This is the obvious first choice on the list of weird Japanese foods. Fugu, or blowfish is an extremely dangerous fish to eat which makes this one of Japan’s weirdest foods.
- Basashi. Horse meat. This is a traditional Japanese dish from Kumamoto prefecture. Basashi means horse meat sashimi in Japanese. Although it may seem weird to some people unaccustomed to eating raw meats, horse meat is tender and has a unique flavor.
- Natto. Slimy, fermented soybeans. Natto, or fermented soybeans, is considered an acquired taste that many Japanese people grow up with. It has a strong smell and sticky, slimy texture.
- Shirako. Fish semen. Shirako which means “white children” in Japanese is made from the sperm sacs of male cod fish. Although this is an unusual food in cultures outside of Japan, it is considered a delicacy because of its delicate texture and mild flavors.
- Natto. Those who try natto for the first time often have to get used to the smell, which is rather musty and is sometimes described as “sweaty feet”. Then, you also have to get over the long and sticky threads that natto produces when you break it into smaller bits.
- Sea Urchin. If you’re from the Mediterranean or Chile you may already be familiar with this hearty snack. But in countries where this culinary practice is not common, most people will have never eaten sea urchin before.
- Beef Tongue. In many traditional European cuisines, beef tongue used to be a much-loved dish. Let it stew for many hours and you will have a perfectly soft and flavorful side dish for your potatoes and vegetables.
- Intestines. Another dish that may have once been popular in other parts of the world as well that the younger generations seem to have lost their appetite for is intestines.
Oct 27, 2023 · Sushi, ramen, and tempura are always the first dishes that come to mind. If you venture off the path, there is a wide array of unique and weird Japanese foods waiting to intrigue even the most adventurous palate. 20 Weird Japanese Foods. Move aside, Natto. From fugu to fermented fish, this list here is the real deal. The truly weird food of Japan.
Jan 14, 2024 · When I told some of my foreign friends that we eat horse meat in Japan, they were surprised. Moreover, in Japan, horse meat is eaten raw, not as processed meat. Horse meat is lean, tender, and very palatable. It is also known as a healthy food with low calories and high protein. The meat has no odor at all. 4. Yukke
Jul 5, 2020 · 10 Weird Japanese Foods You Should Try. By Dallen Nakamura. July 5, 2020. 1. Natto (Fermented Soybeans) This lovely treat made from fermented soybeans is packed full of nutrients…if you can get past its slimy, mucous-like coating. It also has a very distinct smell that screams, “I’m rotten! Don’t eat me!”. That being said, it is a ...
