Celebrate the New Year with Miyagi's New Year's fish, Nametagare!

Namegaharai is a New Year's Eve tradition in Sendai

When it comes to New Year's fish, salmon is famous in the Kanto region and yellowtail in the Kansai region, but in Miyagi Prefecture, the nameplate flounder is the beloved New Year's fish

price suddenly skyrockets around the end of the year, andthe high-end fish "Nametagarei," whosewe'll be discussing"Why it became a popular dish to eat at the end of the year," "How to choose a delicious Nametagarei," and "How to enjoy Nametagarei affordably on New Year's Eve."we'll cover

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Why is flounder eaten at the end of the year?

in other regions."babagarei"is a type of flounder that is called"滑多鰈" (slippery flounderIt is called nametagarei because it is very slimy, hence the name is written as

This fish, which inhabits the waters around Hokkaido, migrates to the Sendai Bay area around December, anda New Year's Eve tradition in Miyagi Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, and parts of Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefectureit seems to have become

The fact that the nametagarei flounder has become an indispensable part of New Year's Eve celebrations is actually a very recent development.
Until the Edo period, cod soup was the beloved dish on New Year's Eve!

It was around 1896 (Meiji 29) that people began to eat the flathead flounder.
that occurred that yearled to a large influx of flathead flounder off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture.

New Year's Eve is a busy time leading up to the New Year. Merchants were so busy that they had no time to grill fish, which caused them great hardship every year. At this time, the catch of nametagare flounder increased

Boiled flounder is delicious even when cold, making it perfect for busy times, and has become a popular dish

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For the tastiest flounder, choose the black one!

If you're going to eat a high-class fish like the flathead flounder, you'll want to enjoy it as much as possible.
So, here's how to choose a delicious flathead flounder!

Choose one with lots of black spots!

The flathead flounder has black spots on its surface, and if you want to eat a delicious flathead flounder,lots of spotsit's best to get one with

It's true that pure white looks more delicious, and if it has spots on it, it can look spoiled depending on how you look at it

However, in reality, the ones with more black spots are fattier and therefore more delicious to eat!

Choose something thick!

This applies to all types of flounder, butthicker the fleshthe tastier it is.
The slime flounder is certainly no exception.

The firm, thick flesh of the flathead flounder makes it easy to separate the flesh from the bone, allowing you to enjoy its bouncy texture.
You can't experience this delight with thinner flesh.

It's a little pricey, but try to buy one that's as thick as possible

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A secret trick to eat delicious flounder on New Year's Eve!

The price of the flathead flounder suddenly skyrockets towards the end of the year.
It's already a luxury fish, but the increased demand drives the price up even further.

Therefore, to get a good deal on flounder on New Year's Eve, buy it early and prepare a stew to keep on hand

Here are some tips for preparing food in advance

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• How to remove the fishy smell → Blanch the fish in hot water before cutting it into fillets to remove the slime.
  To enjoy the taste of flatfish, it is necessary to remove the fishy smell.
  Therefore,blanch the fish in hot water before cutting it into fillets to thoroughly remove the slimeit is best to
  Flatfish are already quite slimy, so there will be a big difference in taste depending on whether you remove the slime at this stage or not.
• Freezing is recommended after cooking the fish.
  Since the flesh inevitably spoils when frozen,cook the fish beforehand before freezingit's best to
  By freezing it in an airtight container or bag with plenty of the cooking liquid, you can enjoy the delicious taste of the flatfish without losing any of its flavor.

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Why not celebrate New Year's with some flounder this year?

New Year's Eve is a busy day with preparations for the New Year.
At times like these, simmered flounder is the perfect dish because it tastes delicious even when cold.

Before eating toshikoshi soba noodles, prepare some flounder as a New Year's fish, which will be a last luxury of the year. Why not celebrate this year's New Year's Eve in the Sendai style?

• Reference:Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries <Local Cuisine> Simmered Nametagarei (a type of flounder) Miyagi Prefecture

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