Discover Osechi Ryori (5) Kazunoko – Family Prosperity

Posted on Jan 1, 2017 in Hiroko's Blog

Are you still with me in the preparation of Osechi Ryori? Hope that you are not put off with too much superstitious ideas. Kazunoko is a salt-cured herring roe consists of hundreds of tiny eggs grouped together in one piece, encased in a very thin membrane. The size of dried herring roe is about 5 inches long. We hydrate it and marinate it in the mixture of shoyu and mirin overnight. Kazunoko symbolizes family prosperity. Properly prepared kazunoko presents golden yellow...

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Preserve Cultural Ritual or Sustain Marine Resource

Posted on Dec 24, 2013 in Hiroko's Blog, Recipes

I bought locally caught herring from the fishmonger, Blue Moon, last Wednesday. Since Blue Moon won’t come back to the Greenmarket until next April I purchased extra herrings and porgy to freeze them for later consumption. I cleaned and filleted the fish, salted them a bit and placed them in plastic bags for storage. While filleting the herring I was thinking of herring roe – a must have New year food item. None of my fish had roe. It is anyway too early for...

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Very crunchy and quite! fishy, yet delicious, expensive kazunoko

Posted on Jan 1, 2012 in Hiroko's Blog

Kazunoko (herring roe): Kazunoko is a reconstituted dried herring roe. I love the popping crunching noise which echoes in my mouth while eating them. Kazunoko is an expensive delicacy and is an indispensable part of Osechi ryori. Without it Osechi ryori is not complete. Tiny eggs of herring roe symbolizes family prosperity, and its golden yellow color represents gold. Herring roe is sold dried or salt cured. For this year’s special New Year’s party I have...

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