The history, culture, and lifestyles of the area are mixed and condensed in one plate of a local dish that has been passed for generations in mountain and fishing villages throughout Japan. We will introduce various unknown local dishes, also known as the soul food of the Japanese people.

Houbazushi

Gifu

A specialty dish of early summer, with a scent of Hou

Houbazushi

Houbazushi is a special kind of sushi usually made for holidays of farm work and ohimachi, and also when having guests home. This special sushi is decorated colorfully with vinegared salted mackerels and salted trouts. If rice is wrapped with a hou leaf while the rice is still warm, it absorbs the scent of Hou more, however the leaf later dulls its color. In some of the areas, this sushi is wrapped or made as oshizushi with the rice and fish mixed together. The ingredients differ depending on the seasons, or the cook’s choice, and it could be arranged in many ways.

Recipi of cuisin

  • rice10 cups
  • vinegar1 cup
  • sugar250g
  • salt2 tablespoon
  • For toppings : tamagoyaki, fuki, trout, shigure, mushrooms, benishoga, shiitake mushrooms, shiso, sasage, mackerel, sanshoha, houba-
  • 朴葉適宜
1.
Cook rice slightly firmer than usual. Mix the rice with the mixture of vinegar and sugar.
2.
Simmer and flavor the ingredients for toppings, and cool them down separately. The ingredients vary with the seasons.
3.
Wipe and clean hou leaves with a wet towel
4.
On a hou leaf spread a bowl-full vinegared rice to 1cm thick, and put the toppings, wrap, leave it for a half day to flavor with the hou.

Information provided by : Division of agricultural products distribution of agricultural administration, Gifu Prefecture

Shushi

Local cuisine

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