Warm up your body with Miyagi Prefecture's famous winter dish "Seri Nabe"!

"Seri nabe" is a winter specialty that represents various parts of Miyagi Prefecture, including Natori and Sendai .

Although it is not as well known nationwide as beef tongue, sasakama, or zunda mochi, it is a highly acclaimed hot pot dish in Miyagi Prefecture, having won the Sendai Nabe Grand Prix for two consecutive years in 2014 and 2015 .

In addition, the restaurant has gradually begun to gain recognition nationwide, the Excellence Award at the 2016 Nippon Nationwide Nabe Grand Prix and taking second place in the 2016 Tendo Winter Battle Heisei Nabe Battle, earning the title "Nabe no Tsubone."

In this article, we will introduce the appeal of Miyagi's parsley hotpot. Why not try warming yourself up with some parsley hotpot this winter?

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Why is there seri hotpot in Miyagi?

First of all, why is parsley hotpot a local specialty?

Speaking of parsley, it is a perennial plant of the Umbelliferae family and is the first wild plant to appear in the "Seven Herbs of Spring" and "Seven Herbs Rice Porridge." Is there any reason why parsley, which is known nationwide, is also a local specialty?

In fact, Natori City in Miyagi Prefecture is one of the top parsley harvesters in Japan, with its roots dating back to the 1620s.

According to a document written in 1776 by Hikoroku, the head of Kamiyota, "wild parsley was cultivated during the Genna era (1620s) ," and it is said that parsley cultivation began to spread during the An'ei era (1770s).

In other words, parsley is a traditional food ingredient with a history of 400 years.

In Miyagi Prefecture, parsley production is mainly carried out in Natori City, and the parsley produced here is called "Sendai parsley."

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The charm of seri hotpot

The most attractive thing about parsley hotpot is the roots ! A unique feature of Miyagi parsley hotpot is that the roots are eaten whole.

You might be wondering about the taste...it's amazing! The more you chew it, the more flavor comes out!

While parsley leaves have a distinctive bitter taste, the roots are surprisingly less bitter and have a strong fragrance. The crunchiness is just as strong as the leaves and stems.

Due to the nature of the roots, they will have soil on them when you purchase them, so you will need to wash them off carefully. The black color of the roots is difficult to remove, but once you have washed away the soil, the slight black color will not affect the taste.

Of course, the leaves and stems each have their own unique charms, so Sendai parsley hotpot is a hotpot dish that lets you enjoy three different flavors! It's no wonder it has swept all the Grand Prix awards!

By the way, 80% of Sendai parsley, which is an ingredient in parsley hotpot, is produced in Natori City. The roots are more delicious than regular parsley, making it a brand vegetable that is perfect for parsley hotpot.

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Tips for making a seri pot

From here, I will introduce some tips for making seri hotpot.

1. The basic broth for seri nabe is soy sauce-based. But if you use white dashi, you can easily make a delicious seri nabe!
2. The ingredients are the same as regular hot pot! Duck meat is the best! – The ingredients for the hot pot can be the same as regular hot pot. When making it at home, chicken is fine, but using duck meat makes it even more delicious.
3. You can enjoy the crunchiness of parsley by cooking it shabu-shabu style! – When eating parsley, simmering it is fine, but cooking it shabu-shabu style makes it even more crunchy! It makes it even more appealing. However, be careful, as the roots need to be cooked for at least 20 to 30 seconds.
4. The basic way to wash the roots is to rub the soil. If you have a toothbrush, that's even better! - The basic way to wash the roots is to rub them with your fingers. If you have an old toothbrush, you can also use it to wash them all at once. However, be careful, as there may be small stones stuck between the roots and stems even when washing with a toothbrush.

Japanese parsley hotpot is easy to make, but if you keep these tips in mind, it will taste even better. Try to keep these tips in mind when making it at home!

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