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

the luxury fish "Nametagare" whose price suddenly rises at the end of the year, including "Why it can be eaten at the end of the year," "How to choose a delicious Nametagare," and "How to enjoy Nametagare at a bargain price on New Year's Eve .

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Why is flounder eaten at the end of the year?

is a type of flatfish called "babagarei" in other regions and is called "nametagarei " because it is slimy

This fish lives around Hokkaido and migrates to the Sendai Bay area from around December, making it a New Year's Eve tradition in Miyagi Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, and parts of Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture

It's only recently that flounder has become an indispensable dish on New Year's Eve.
Until the Edo period, cod soup was a beloved dish on New Year's Eve!

Namegaharai became available to eat around 1896. This
that occurred in that year , which led to a large amount of namegaharai being caught 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 the luxury fish, namely, nameplate flounder, you want to make sure it tastes as good as possible.
Here, we'll show you how to choose the best nameplate flounder!

Choose one with lots of black spots!

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

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 can be said about all flatfish, but thicker the flesh , the tastier it is.
Of course, this is no exception for flatfish.

The firm, thick flesh of the flounder allows it to be easily peeled off, giving it a bouncy texture.
If the flesh were thin, you wouldn't be able to enjoy this pleasure.

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 flounder suddenly rises as the year comes to an end.
It is already a luxury fish, but as demand increases, the price rises 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 to remove the slime before cutting into fillets
  In order to enjoy Nametagare flounder, it is necessary to remove the fishy smell.
  Therefore, it is best
  to blanch the fish before cutting into fillets to remove the slime thoroughly Nametagare flounder is already very slimy, so there is a big difference in taste between removing the slime at this stage and not.
• It is recommended to simmer the fish before freezing it.
  Since the flesh will inevitably spoil when frozen, it is best to
  simmer the fish beforehand and then freeze it By storing the fish in an airtight container or bag with plenty of broth, you can enjoy the flavor of the flounder without losing 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 as we prepare for the New Year.
At such times, boiled flounder is the perfect dish to bring along, as it is 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 <Our Local Cuisine> Boiled Nametagare (Flounder) Miyagi Prefecture

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