Zōni

Zōni
Soup
Place of origin:
Japan
Main ingredient(s):
mochi rice cakes
Recipes at Wikibooks:
Zōni
Media at Wikimedia Commons:
Zōni

Eating grilled mochi from zōni.

Hakata zōni

Zōni (雑煮), often with the honorific "o-" as o-zōni, is a Japanese soup containing mochi rice cakes.^[1] The dish is strongly associated with the Japanese New Year and its tradition of osechi ceremonial foods. Zōni is considered the most auspicious of the dishes eaten on New Year's Day.^[2] The preparation of zōni varies both by household and region.^[1]

Etymology

Zōni is written in the Japanese language using two kanji characters. Since the first, 雑 means "miscellaneous" or "mixed", and the second, 煮, means "simmer" or "boil", it is thought that the word is derived from the fact that zōni consists of many miscellaneous items of food (such as mochi, vegetables and seafood) being boiled together. Formerly, amongst samurai society, the dish was referred to as "烹雑" (Hōzō) with 烹 also being an archaic term for "to simmer" or "to boil".^[3]

Origin

It is said that zōni finds its roots in samurai society cuisine. It is thought to be a meal that was cooked during field battles, boiled together with mochi, vegetables and dried foods, among other ingredients. It is also generally believed that this original meal, at first exclusive to samurai, eventually became a staple food of the common people. Zōni was first served as part of a full-course dinner (honzen ryōri), and thus is thought to have been a considerably important meal to samurai.

The tradition of eating zōni on New Year's Day dates to the end of the Muromachi period (1336–1573). The dish was offered to the gods in a ceremony on New Year's Eve.^[4]

Variations

Stock

Zōni has numerous regional variations in Japan. In the Kantō region zōni consists of a clear soup called sumashi-jiru which is flavoured with dashi, a stock made from flakes of dried bonito and/or kombu, and soy sauce. In the Kansai region, Shikoku, and Kyushu zōni is generally made with a stock of white miso.^[4]

Mochi

The preparation of the mochi for the dish also varies by region. In the Kantō region the mochi is cut into squares and grilled before being added to the stock. In the Kansai region a round, boiled mochi is preferred.^[2] In some areas taro or tofu is used instead of mochi. This type of zōni is found on some islands or mountainous areas where rice is not grown to a large extent.

Additions

Common additions to the soup include chicken, fish or meatballs; leafy vegetables such as komatsuna or spinach; mitsuba (a Japanese herb similar to parsley); kamaboko such as naruto and carrot flakes for colour;^[2] and flakes of yuzu peel for its citrus fragrance. Regional specialties are often added. A sprinkle of seven-spice chili flakes (shichimi) is sometimes added at the table.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zoni.

• Japanese New Year

References