I think, Osechi is very interesting for foreigner,so I want you introduce the tradition dish by which Japanese make efforts most in one year.
but these dishes were not what I made it.
My mother-in-law entertains us from the tradition dish to the creation dish with various treats in the dab at cooking at the New Year every year.
This is herring roe, we call it ''Kazunoko'' in Japanese.↑↑↑
It symbolizes the descendant prosperity because lots of eggs there.
I like Kazunoko but we can buy it usually, so I feel New Year when I eat it!!!
and ''Kuromame'' it is black soybeans that black bean was sweetly cooked.
If rusty nails are put and cooked in the pan, it becomes beautiful black.symbolizing a wish for health.
Next, ''Tazukuri''.(meaning Rice paddy maker)
The name "Rice field making" as the fish were used historically to fertilize rice field. This symbol is for abundant harvest. cooked in soy sauce.taste is salty-sweet.
my mother-in-law mixed it with the crushed-almonds this time. That is nice arrangement!!
and ''Kurikinton'' this is chestnut cooked with sugar then mashed it. yes it looks like mashed potato.
The golden color images the gold ingot, this symbolize a wish to be a rich.
This is ''Maki-konbu'' its seaweed.↑↑↑
The fish and the vegetable seasoned to seaweed have been rolled. the Seaweed is an indispensable material for Japanese food.symbolizing a wish for health and long life.
Mineral abundant, really healthy one.
Did you notice? these are put in square boxes and dished up!! this square box is called ''Oju'' or ''Jubako''. this box is for special.
Next, ''Bodara'' .
This is dried codfish returned to water then seasoned.
I think, it is a peculiar special New Year's food to the Kansai area.(west side of Japan)
This is not traditional ''Osechi'' Scallop's adductor muscle of shellfish is rolled with bacon and the grill is done,my mother-in-law make every year at the New Year.
This is ''O-Toso'', set of drinking Sake. can you see three different size cup? its ''Sakazuki'' It aperitif Japanese style in New Year.
It marks the new year drinking sake little by little in all families.
When I was child, was drinking sake a little bit in New Year, I always say ''wwwww'' taste bitter!!! It was non-daily experience only of the New Year.
Cooking like this might end by mother's generations.because our generation who can make the special New Year's food is considerably few.
now, most people BUY ''Osechi'' at the supermarket or order the restaurant. or some people don't think that ''Osechi'' is special dish..
after 20years....
my daughter and son come back to home on New Year, can I greet with such an ''Osechi''?
mmmm, not sure... I was filled with deep emotion....
I have never tasted these products before but herring roe and rice :))) it's all looks bright and colourful, but VERY unusual :) for me.
Arigato for your interesting blog. I am English and my wife Ryoko is Japanese. We were lucky to spend New Year in Japan recently and I really enjoyed the food on New year's day.
@St John Rylance-san Thank you for your comment!! Did you have ''Osechi''??
I hope you will enjoy more with my blog :))
Yes we had Osechi with my wife Ryoko's family in Kobe. Oishii! I have subscribed to your blog and hope you will take a look at mine, which I have only just begun to work on. Hopefully it will improve!