Aomori

Deep-fried minced squid tentacles mixed with veggies

Hirosaki “Iga” Menchi

Hirosaki “iga” Menchi is one of the dishes that has long been eaten in and around Hirosaki City. As the city is located inland, the locals have traditionally used dried squids (“ika” in Japanese, but pronounced “iga” in the area) to make a type of fermented sushi as their preserved food. While making the sushi, they developed a recipe to use leftover squid tentacles so that they did not have to waste any bit of the ingredient, by chopping and mixing them with vegetables before deep-frying them in the oil. With the chewy texture of the tasty squid, it is a great accompaniment for both meals and drinks.