Shimotsukare (A simmered dish of salmon head, soybeans, root vegetables, and sake lees)
A traditional regional dish that is now relatively easy to find.

About Shimotsukare (A simmered dish of salmon head, soybeans, root vegetables, and sake lees)

Shimotsukare is a ceremonial dish offered to Inari shrines with sekihan (red bean rice) on Hatsu-uma, the first Day of the Horse in February. It is traditionally regarded as an auspicious food for warding off evil and misfortune and praying for good health. It is made by simmering a salmon head with soybeans, root vegetables, and sake lees. Although many people may never have heard of Shimotsukare, it is a traditional local and home-cooked dish in Tochigi and the northern Kanto region. According to a local saying, eating Shimotsukare from seven different households will keep you from falling ill. In recent years, the dish has gained more attention, with events such as the All-Japan Shimotsukare Contest and the sale of Shimotsukare-flavored potato chips.

Related videos

Reviews