Mentaiko

Mentaiko

Mentaiko (明太子) is the marinated roe of pollock and cod is a common ingredient in Japanese cuisine. Mentaiko originated from myeongnan jeot of Korea Jeotgal and was introduced to Japan after the Russo-Japanese War. Toshio Kawahara (川原 俊夫 Kawahara Toshio), a Busan-born Japanese, adapted Korean mentaiko to Japanese tastes in Fukuoka in the 1949. The typical seasoning and flavor is different in Japan.[1][2]

Mentaiko is made in a variety of flavors and colors and is available at airports and main train stations. It is usually eaten with onigiri, but is also enjoyed by itself with sake. A common variety is spicy mentaiko (辛子明太子 karashi mentaiko). It is a product of the Hakata ward of Fukuoka City.

Mentaiko was nominated as Japan's number one side dish in the Japanese weekly magazine, Shūkan Bunshun.[3]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mentaiko.

References

  1. Hangul: 명란젓; RR: Myeongnanjeot.
  2. (Korean) Introducing Fukuya.
  3. Ahn (안), Min-jeong (민정) (2011-05-06). 일본인 좋아하는 밥반찬에 한국의 그것?. JPNews (in Korean). Retrieved 2011-12-08.