I think that one of the most strange Japanese food should be natto. In fact there are many people that doesn't like natto,especially in western areas.
However the natto culture is original Japanese food culture. So I will introduce about Japanese natto.
But originally it had made with straws. In straws, there are many microorganisms that make soybean to natto.
In old generation, the natto were made by wrapping boiled soybean with straws. And the microorganisms in the straws ferment the soybean. Then soybean had changed to natto.
By the way, you could make natto with straws, but it should not recommend. Because, today's agricultural products might be used agricultural chemicals.
And Mito natto is a higher level from general natto that is sold in supermarket. Then you can have a good meal with Mito natto.
In the legend, first natto is made on straws that in stables. Some boiled soybeans had dropped on straws, then the boiled soybeans changed natto.
Firstly, the natto should be mix without natto sauce. By mixing, the natto could be better.
Secondly, the sauce should be poured tonatto. Then restart mixing the sauce and natto.
Thirdly, mixed natto should be put on the rice, and mix the natto and rice.
By the way, for having good taste, you should prepare freshly cooked rice. The combination of hot rice and tasty natto wound be good meal.
For example, natto is dressed with another foodstuffs, vegetables, sashimi, etc.
By the way, such a side dish of natto is put on small dish. Actually, there are some main dish of natto, it might be miner.
Anyway, there are many people that say it is acceptable, so I will introduce them.
Firstly cheese and natto put on the bread, and chopped green onion as you like. And toast it.
The tip for making this beverage, amount of natto. Actually amount of natto is as you like. But if you put in many natto, the beverage might not be tasty. So, I recommend you challenge from a little natto to much amount.
Making natto pasta is simple. boiled pasta, chopped green onion, olive oil and egg should be mixed.
The taste of pasta dipped on amount of egg and green onion. You should adjust it as you like.
Making natto salad is very simple. Chopped cabbage, seaweed, natto, and mayonnaise should be mixed. The salad might be that you can have Japanese atmosphere, I think.
But in fact, it would be difficult to make miso soup. Then if you are busy, instant miso soup is very convenient.
Enjoy!
However the natto culture is original Japanese food culture. So I will introduce about Japanese natto.
1．What is natto?
First of all, we have to study that what is natto.1-1．The material and how to make
Natto is a fermented food from soybean. Nowadays natto is made from food factory.But originally it had made with straws. In straws, there are many microorganisms that make soybean to natto.
In old generation, the natto were made by wrapping boiled soybean with straws. And the microorganisms in the straws ferment the soybean. Then soybean had changed to natto.
By the way, you could make natto with straws, but it should not recommend. Because, today's agricultural products might be used agricultural chemicals.
1-2．The famous area by natto
The most famous city of natto is Mito city in Ibaraki Prefecture. In Mito city there are old companies of natto that is made almost 100 years ago.And Mito natto is a higher level from general natto that is sold in supermarket. Then you can have a good meal with Mito natto.
1-3．The legend of natto
The history of natto in Mito city is very old about 1000 years ago.In the legend, first natto is made on straws that in stables. Some boiled soybeans had dropped on straws, then the boiled soybeans changed natto.
2．How to eat natto
Now I will introduce the way of eating natto.2-1．Topping on the rice
Topping on the rice is the most popular direction. But there are some point topping and eating natto.Firstly, the natto should be mix without natto sauce. By mixing, the natto could be better.
Secondly, the sauce should be poured tonatto. Then restart mixing the sauce and natto.
Thirdly, mixed natto should be put on the rice, and mix the natto and rice.
By the way, for having good taste, you should prepare freshly cooked rice. The combination of hot rice and tasty natto wound be good meal.
2-2．As a foodstuffs of side dish
In Japanese side dish, many of them are cooked will natto.For example, natto is dressed with another foodstuffs, vegetables, sashimi, etc.
By the way, such a side dish of natto is put on small dish. Actually, there are some main dish of natto, it might be miner.
3．A little strange eating styles
Now I will introduce a little strange eating styles. I guess there are many people that the eating styles are OK, meanwhile the people wound say "No”.Anyway, there are many people that say it is acceptable, so I will introduce them.
3-1．With a bread
Some bread company suggests "natto toast”. Natto toast is made from bread, natto, and sliced cheese.Firstly cheese and natto put on the bread, and chopped green onion as you like. And toast it.
3-2．With milk
Some milk company suggest beverage that is mixed milk and natto.The tip for making this beverage, amount of natto. Actually amount of natto is as you like. But if you put in many natto, the beverage might not be tasty. So, I recommend you challenge from a little natto to much amount.
3-3．With pasta
Perhaps, natto pasta might be popular. But it wound be miner menu, I guess.Making natto pasta is simple. boiled pasta, chopped green onion, olive oil and egg should be mixed.
The taste of pasta dipped on amount of egg and green onion. You should adjust it as you like.
3-4．With salad
Natto salad is also popular, maybe. But it wound be miner menu, I guess.Making natto salad is very simple. Chopped cabbage, seaweed, natto, and mayonnaise should be mixed. The salad might be that you can have Japanese atmosphere, I think.
4．Recommendations
There are some recommendations.4-1．condiment
It is important to add condiment to natto. Usually it should be chopped green onion. But another foodstuffs wound be OK. For example, A little mustard, a little wasabi, seaweed wound be good.4-2．miso soup
Addition of miso soup is also important.But in fact, it would be difficult to make miso soup. Then if you are busy, instant miso soup is very convenient.
4-3．rice
If it is OK to prepare Japanese rice, I recommend you buy Japanese rice called Koshihikari. Koshihikari is very good taste in Japanese rice. And getting koshihikari, you can taste not only Japanese food but also Japanese old culture.Enjoy!
