[Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture] What is Hirosaki's local dish "Igamenchi"? Introducing restaurants and recipes where you can eat

What kind of food do you imagine when you hear the word " Igamenchi Many people imagine minced meat cutlet using squid instead of meat. However, ``Igamenchi'', which can be eaten in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, is a deep-fried dish made with squid squid, and has a distinctive texture that is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

In this article, we will thoroughly investigate "Iga Menchi" in order to let you know the charm of Iga Menchi, which has been loved for many years mainly in Hirosaki City! We will also introduce restaurants where you can eat ``Igamenchi'' and recipes that you can easily make at home.

What kind of food is iga menchi? Introducing the origin of the name

"Igamenchi" is a deep-fried dish made with squid squid.

"Igamenchi" is a local dish from the Tsugaru region, centered around Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture. " Iga " means " squid " in Tsugaru dialect, and "menchi" means fried ground meat dish. Now, as I explained at the beginning, some people may be wondering, "Isn't this minced meat cutlet made with squid?" However, it is not fried and covered in breadcrumbs like minced meat cutlet.

Its basic form is mainly squid legs, which are mixed with other vegetables and ingredients, coated with batter, and fried. Other than the squid scallions, onions and cabbage are commonly used as ingredients, but some families also add carrots and green onions. There is also a flavorful ``Igamenchi'' with green onions and ginger, and it's great that you can customize it with your favorite ingredients or make it with leftover vegetables in the fridge.

Dishes filled with the wisdom of our ancestors: ``Do not waste ingredients''

Igamenchi became popular as a dish that could be easily made at home during the post-war era when supplies were scarce. Squid was abundantly available along the coast of Aomori, so it was a familiar ingredient for the common people. Using squid, which is cheap and easily available, the meat is used as sashimi or stews, and the remaining legs are pounded with vegetables and fried in oil. By combining it with vegetables and flour to make it more filling, it became popular as a dish that could easily and inexpensively satisfy the whole family. Nowadays, it is served at many restaurants mainly in Hirosaki City, and it is a nostalgic taste for locals.

A restaurant where you can eat Igamenchi in Hirosaki

Niji no Mart's delicatessen shops "Okazuya Hamada" and "Greengrocer GOHAN"

Niji no Mart a market in Hirosaki City , is the kitchen of Hirosaki citizens, stocked with a wide variety of ingredients from Hirosaki and Aomori. It's crowded with people even on weekdays because it has everything from local vegetables and fresh seafood to dried foods, delicacies, and Hirosaki City's local cuisine. The shops that sell Igamenchi at Niji no Mart are ``Okazuya Hamada'' and ``Grocery Shop GOHAN.''

Okazuya Hamada's ``Igamenchi'' is more flat than round, and looks like it was scooped out with a spoon and dropped into oil. It has a lot of cabbage and has a sweet flavor.
``Igamenchi'' from ``Grocery Store GOHAN'' contains onions and is slightly spicy. It is rounder and darker in color than Okazuya Hamada, so at first glance it looks like freshly fried ganja.

Niji no Mart also has an eating and drinking space, where you can eat the products you purchase on the spot. When you visit Niji no Mart, why not try comparing the ``Igamenchi'' from ``Okazuya Hamada'' and ``Grocery Shop GOHAN''?

INFORMATION

• Facility name: Niji no Mart
• Address: 12-1 Ekimae-cho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture 036-8003
• Business hours: 8:00-18:00
• Closed: Sunday
• Phone number: 0172-32-6411

GOOGLE MAP

Restaurants in Hirosaki City

There are many restaurants in Hirosaki City that serve Igamenchi. In particular, there is a high probability that izakayas that serve local cuisine will have iga menchi, which you can enjoy with Aomori's local sake. There are many izakaya restaurants in front of Hirosaki Station that serve local cuisine, and some are open for lunch. Please find your favorite store.

Can be purchased at supermarkets

``Igamenchi'' is sold at supermarkets in Hirosaki City, and you can easily enjoy the taste of home-cooked noodles. If you don't have time to visit the Niji no Mart or izakaya mentioned above, why not stop by a local supermarket and buy some ``Igamenchi''?

You can make it at home! Easy recipe for “Igamenchi”

Basic ingredients and how to make “Igamenchi”

Click here for the basic ingredients and recipe for “Igamenchi”. By the way, supermarkets in Hirosaki City sell finely chopped ``ikageso'' for making squid noodles, but of course you can also make it by pounding regular squid.

material

• Squid legs (about 200g)
• Onion (1 piece)
• Carrot (1/2)
• Flour (appropriate amount)
• Egg (1 piece)
• Salt and pepper (as appropriate)

How to make

1. First, chop the squid legs into small pieces.
2. Next, cut the onions and carrots into small pieces as well and mix all the ingredients together.
3. Once mixed, season with salt and pepper.
4. The mixed ingredients are rolled into appropriate size balls and fried in oil.
   *Oil temperature is around 170-180℃
5. It's done when the surface turns golden brown.

How to arrange Iga mince

If you have leftover igamenchi, you can wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it. If you make a big batch when you have time and freeze it, it will come in handy when you need one more item or as a side dish for your lunch box. Also, if you get tired of eating it as is, we recommend adding ginger and soy sauce to it. The taste changes depending on the ingredients you add, so be sure to find your favorite recipe.

summary

``Igamenchi'' is a traditional local dish of Hirosaki and is still widely loved by locals. You can easily enjoy it at restaurants and markets in Hirosaki City, so be sure to give it a try when you visit.