What is Hatahata Sushi? A detailed guide from when to eat it to how to make it [Akita Prefecture]

When you think of delicious fish in Akita Prefecture, you probably think of flatfish, but have you ever thought that it doesn't keep well and therefore isn't suitable as a souvenir?

In this article, we will introduce in detail about Hatahata sushi, which is recommended for such people, from when it is in season to how to make it

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What is Hatahata Sushi?

Hatahata sushi is a type of narezushi made by lactic acid fermentation of fish with salt and rice, and has been popular in Akita Prefecture as a New Year's dish and a preserved food for winter

Unlike today, during the Edo period, the price of flathead was low and it was a fish that common people could easily obtain, so flathead sushi became available throughout Akita Prefecture, and today it remains a traditional Akita food

Pickled whole fish is called "ippikizushi," pickled with the head removed is called "maruzushi," and pickled filleted fish is called "kirizushi," but the more commonly eaten type is zenzushi

Reference: Akita Beauty Net "Gourmet Food and Akita's Food Culture"

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How to make Hatahata sushi

We will introduce the steps for making Hatahata sushi in Akita Prefecture

1. Washing the flatfish
2. Salt for 3 days
3. Soak in vinegar water for 3 days
4. The ingredients are layered and pickled in the order of sterilizing bamboo grass, koji rice, sandfish, carrots, and seaweed, and then left to ferment in the refrigerator for about two weeks

The method of preparation varies slightly depending on the region, with some methods salting the flatfish immediately and others soaking it in water for a certain amount of time to remove the slime and blood

Hatahata sushi has just the right amount of acidity and umami, typical of a fermented food, and the traditional method of making it has been passed down as one way to bring out the full flavor of the hatahata

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Best before date for flatfish sushi

Since flatfish sushi is a type of vinegar-based sushi, many people would expect it to have a longer shelf life than regular flatfish or sushi

First of all, how long does the flatfish, which is the ingredient in flatfish sushi, last?

We have compiled a table showing the expiration dates for flatfish depending on how it is stored

How to save	expiration date
Refrigerated storage	3 days
frozen storage	15 days

Depending on the season, if you are not going to eat it right away, it is best to freeze it

Here are some guidelines to help you determine if your nails are hurting:

• A slimy texture appears
• My stomach is getting softer
• It smells fishy
• It has turned black

If you are thinking of making your own flatfish sushi, it is important to marinate the fish while it is as fresh as possible

Also, what is the expiration date for commercially available hatahata sushi?

We will introduce some excerpts

Product name	expiration date
Miura Yonetaro Shoten Sandfish Sushi	Refrigerated for 14 days, frozen for 3 months
Miura Yonetaro Shoten Sandfish Sushi with Smoked Pickles	Refrigerated for 14 days, frozen for 3 months
Miura Yonetaro Shoten Sandfish Roe Sushi	Refrigerated for 14 days, frozen for 3 months
Suzuki Fisheries Co., Ltd. Flatfish Sushi	It can be frozen, but it is perishable so eat it as soon as possible
Suzuki Fisheries Co., Ltd. Flatfish Sushi	It can be frozen, but it is perishable so eat it as soon as possible
Suzuki Fisheries Co., Ltd. Buriko Sandfish Sushi	Frozen for 3 months, thawed for 7 days
Hiyori-kai's Sandfish Sushi	The shelf life is one year if unopened and frozen, and within two months if refrigerated after opening
Sanko Fisheries Co., Ltd. Hatahata Sushi	Store frozen for up to 90 days from the date of manufacture, or within 5 days after thawing

The expiration date of commercially available hatahata sushi seems to vary depending on the manufacturer, but a good guideline is about three months if stored frozen

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summary

We learned that Hatahata sushi is a type of narezushi made by lactic acid fermentation of fish with salt and rice, and has long been popular in Akita Prefecture as a New Year's dish and a preserved food for winter

If you store it in the freezer, it will last a relatively long time, and it's delicious as a snack with sake, so if you visit Akita, be sure to try it as a souvenir

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