What is Towada Barayaki? Introducing the store where it originated and the recipe [Aomori Prefecture]

Towada Barayaki is beef belly seasoned with a sweet and spicy sauce and grilled on a hot plate with onions .

This dish, beloved mainly in Towada, Aomori Prefecture, is an easy dish made with only onions and beef belly. In this article, we'll introduce the appeal of Towada Barayaki, where it originated, and an easy recipe! It's easy to make and delicious, so be sure to give it a try

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What is Towada Barayaki? Its Characteristics and History

Towada Barayaki is a simple dish made by grilling beef belly and onions seasoned with a sweet and spicy sauce on a hot plate

The sweetness of the slowly sautéed onions and the savory flavor of the juicy beef belly combine to create a taste you'll never forget once you've tried it. The sweet flavor makes it a big hit with children! It's great as a side dish on its own, or served on rice as a bowl, or paired with alcohol. It's a popular staple dish in local Towada homes

By the way, the definition of " barayaki " is not fixed, and there are no specific regulations regarding the meat or seasoning used. However, it generally refers to beef or pork belly stir-fried with onions in a sweet and spicy sauce.

Background of the birth of Barayaki

Towada Barayaki was born during the Showa era. It is said to have originated in a small restaurant in Misawa City shortly after the war. This dish, which uses beef belly and onions, which were relatively inexpensive at the time, spread and became established as a home-cooked dish

Barayaki spread from Misawa City to the southern region, including Towada City, and became a local gourmet/B-class gourmet food. It was promoted as a way to revitalize Towada, and in 2008 the Towada Barayaki Seminar was launched. It then won first place at the 9th B-1 Grand Prix Towada Barayaki nationwide .

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Where is the restaurant where Towada Barayaki originated?

Aka Noren, the original store (Misawa City)

Aka Noren the restaurant where Towada Barayaki originated , is a long-established restaurant loved by locals in Misawa City. In addition to Barayaki, they also serve a wide variety of ramen, curry, and set meals, making it a great place for everyday dining. However, since it is the restaurant where Barayaki originated, most customers order Barayaki. Barayaki seasoned with a secret sauce is characterized by its rich flavor and fragrant aroma. Not only do locals visit the restaurant, but many tourists also visit as it is the birthplace of Towada Barayaki.

The iron plate used to cook the barray is quite old, having been in use for over half a century. Since you cook it yourself, you can adjust the doneness, but make sure to cook the onions thoroughly to bring out their sweetness. Also, letting the liquid evaporate will give it a richer flavor

Aka Noren (Red Curtain) ＜Information＞

• Name: Red curtain
• Address: 2-1-23 Chuocho, Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture, 033-0001
• Phone number: 0176-53-3333
• Official URL: Tabelog – Aka Noren

Google Map

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There are many restaurants in Towada that serve barayaki

There are many restaurants in Towada City that serve barayaki. Each restaurant has its own unique style, with set meal restaurants boasting barayaki with special sauces and izakayas popular for their fragrant barayaki grilled over charcoal. In addition to beef and pork, barayaki made with horse meat, a local specialty, is also available, with a variety of seasonings. When you visit Towada City, be sure to find a restaurant that you like!

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Enjoy at home! Easy Towada Barayaki recipe

Basic Towada Barayaki Recipe

Here are some basic recipes that you can easily make at home

Ingredients (for 2-3 people)

• 300g thinly sliced ​​beef belly
• 2 onions (the more the merrier)
• Sauce
  : 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  , 2 tablespoons mirin
  , 1 tablespoon sugar,
  a little pepper,
  a little ginger

How to make it

1. Slice the onion thinly and cut the beef belly into bite-sized pieces
2. Make the sauce first before frying
3. Heat salad oil in a frying pan or hot plate and fry the onions
4. Once the onions are soft, add the beef belly and stir fry until cooked through
5. Add the sauce and stir fry until the liquid has evaporated and it's done

There are no special precautions to take when making this dish. The onions give it a sweet taste, so adjust the amount of sugar and mirin to your liking. If you don't want to bother cutting the beef belly, you can just fry it as is. It will break down into smaller pieces as you fry, so please be careful when giving it to small children

Recipe 1: Grilled Pork Belly Rice Bowl

Simply place Towada Barayaki generously on top of rice to create a delicious and easy-to-make bowl of rice. The beef and onion sauce soaks into the rice, making it a dish you won't be able to stop eating. At first glance, it may look like a beef bowl, but the sweetness and flavor are completely different from beef bowls made by boiling. The umami flavor of the beef fat remains, so you can never have enough rice. Finishing it off with a soft-boiled egg and spring onions makes it an even more luxurious bowl of rice. Recommended for lunch or dinner on busy days

Arranged Recipe 2: Fried Udon

Barayaki, characterized by its sweet and spicy sauce, is also delicious when stir-fried with udon noodles! It has a slightly different flavor than sukiyaki, and is addictively delicious. It saves you the trouble of preparing rice, and it's very easy to make, as all you have to do is stir-fry it together. If you get tired of the flavor, try adding garlic or chili pepper, or try eating it sukiyaki-style with a raw egg

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summary

Towada Barayaki is a soul food beloved in the local Aomori area. Its appeal lies in its simple yet addictive sweet and spicy seasoning, and the excellent combination of beef belly and onions. You can try it at the restaurant where it originated, or you can easily make it at home. Be sure to give this Aomori B-class gourmet a try!

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