[ad_1]
That is one thing we’ve by no means heard of–however not one thing we’re against attempting!
Our Japanese-language reporter Ikuna Kamezawa was visiting Osaka lately, and whereas trying out an area grocery store she got here throughout a piece stuffed with “agesoba,” or deep-fried, crispy noodles. Ikuna has principally identified such crispy noodles to be udon-sized and topped with saucy greens in a Nagasaki dish referred to as sara udon. To see them referred to as “soba” was fascinating…they usually appeared to come back in several sizes, too!
In any case, you don’t actually see a lot agesoba being bought in Tokyo, and the cabinets at this Osaka grocery store have been full of principally native manufacturers. Clearly, it’s a well-liked meals for Osakans, so she determined to purchase some to check out.
Those she chosen have been referred to as “Kamishoku”, an Osaka model that retailed for 213 yen (US$1.43) every.
There was a skinny kind labeled “Agesoba” and a thick kind referred to as “Yakisoba.” Ikuna had no concept why, when “yakisoba” is its personal, utterly separate factor. However whereas that was complicated, what was totally extra urgent was the serving strategies listed on the packaging.
▼ “Eat as is topped with baboacai (stir-fried Chinese language greens), curry, stew, hayashi stew, or vegetable soup.”
“What?!” cried Ikuna. The stir-fried greens have been high-quality, since that might principally be saru udon. The complicated half was all the pieces else. Curry? Stew? Ikuna had by no means heard of such a factor!
In such conditions the place the cultural variations between Kansai and Kanto provide too many riddles, there’s at all times one individual within the workplace we are able to at all times depend on: Osaka native Seiji Nakazawa. He’s spent a lot of his life residing in each locations, so he’s an knowledgeable in the case of answering our Tokyo-ite reporters’ burning questions. So, is it regular for Osakans to eat deep-fried noodles with stew and curry? And what does it style like?
▼ Please inform us, man from Osaka!
Seiji: “Um…I’ve by no means heard of that earlier than…”
Not even our most dependable Osaka-born supply knew. The circumstances have been getting dicey, however Ikuna, a good journalist herself, knew what to do. There was no selection however to attempt it!
So she poured some curry over the agesoba (the thin sort) and gave it a style. It was actually scrumptious!
Everybody within the workplace who was there to attempt it gave it excessive reward, saying it was even higher than saru udon. It was totally different from consuming common curry rice too. Not like rice, which performs a supporting function to curry, the crunch and taste of the agesoba was an ideal match. It didn’t let the curry overpower it. For those who have been to consider them as a band, it might be just like the curry was the vocalist and the agesoba was the guitarist. With out both of them, the band (or the curry agesoba) wouldn’t exist; they have been equally very important to the concord of the dish.
If Ikuna ran a diner or a bar, she would put this on the key menu. Little doubt it might be insanely well-liked!
In fact, similar to saru udon, the longer the crispy noodles sat within the curry, the extra moisture they absorbed and the soggier they obtained. However that was actually simply as scrumptious. It was just like the world’s richest curry ramen. Ikuna used a ready-made curry-in-a-pouch this time, so she couldn’t wait to attempt it with a high-quality curry or an Indian curry. That may be out of this world!
Ikuna had one other query, although. Together with stew and curry, the packaging additionally talked about that you can serve the crispy noodles with “vegetable soup.” She needed to surprise precisely what sort of “vegetable soup” they meant, so she as soon as once more requested Osaka-native Seiji, who as soon as once more replied, “I’ve by no means heard of that both.” The plot thickened. “Perhaps I can use miso soup?” she puzzled.
Whereas rummaging within the workplace pantry, she discovered a pouch of “Kimchi scorching pot”, which was basically a vegetable soup with kimchee in it, so she determined to present {that a} attempt.
This hinted that she was heading in the right direction, which additional deepened the thriller. What extra may one use agesoba for? It appeared prefer it had limitless potential, like rice, which can be utilized in so many infinite, surprising methods–as rice buns, as a drink, at the same time as an alternative to ramen. In the long run, Ikuna nonetheless has no concept how well-liked curry agesoba could be in Osaka, however that doesn’t matter a lot as this new culinary discovery that may now make its approach onto her common dinner rotation.
Photos © SoraNews24
● Need to hear about SoraNews24’s newest articles as quickly as they’re revealed? Observe us on Fb and Twitter!
[ Read in Japanese ]
[ad_2]