[Iwate Prefecture] What is Hitsumi? Detailed explanation of the differences between Suiton and Hatto and the sake that goes well with them

In December 2007, Hitsumi was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as one of the ``Top 100 Local Dishes of Agricultural and Fishing Villages''.

In this article, we will explain in detail Hitsumi, a local dish made with local ingredients that has long been loved in Iwate Prefecture.

Hitsumi ?

Hitsumi is a local dish from the Kitakami region of Iwate Prefecture, where flour is kneaded, rolled out thinly, torn by hand, and then simmered with vegetables in soup stock.Hittsumi is a local dish from the Kitakami region of Iwate Prefecture, where the flour is kneaded and rolled out into thin pieces, then simmered in soup stock with vegetables. Masu.

It is also known as nage, and in the Esashi region it is also called tsusuri, and it can be said that it is characteristic that there are no particular rules as the vegetables, soup stock, and seasonings that are put inside vary from family to family.

As of February 2022, Cookpad, a popular recipe site, has 71 recipes for hitstsumi, which shows that it has a wide variety of ingredients and seasonings.

Reference: Cookpad “Hitsumi’s Recipe”

How is it different from dishes similar to hittsumi

Dishes similar to hittsumi are often cited as ``hatto,'' which is also a local dish from Iwate Prefecture, and ``suiton,'' which has been eaten since the Muromachi period and became popular as a substitute food during wartime. Is there a difference?

I have summarized it in a table.

Although they all use the same wheat flour, you can see that the molding methods are slightly different.

The big difference between hittsumi and sweet potato is that it is a soup that is boiled in soup stock, whereas hatto is sometimes eaten mixed with red bean paste, sesame seeds, or zunda bean paste.

Sake that goes well with Hitsumi

If you want to drink sake with hittsumi, what kind of alcohol should you pair it with?

Hittsumi is made from wheat flour, and the vegetables used inside it are green vegetables such as Chinese cabbage and green onions, a few root vegetables such as carrots and burdock, and mushrooms such as shimeji mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms.

Also, the seasoning is relatively light with soy sauce and miso, so it is not a heavy dish that will leave you feeling heavy.

Therefore, it is best to drink Junmaishu, which has a strong and umami flavor even among Japanese sake, cool and chilled (around 15℃).

・Junmai sake from Suisen Sake Brewery

The recommended brand is Suisen Junmaishu, which is also brewed in the Sanriku region of Iwate.

It is a standard among Iwate's Junmaishu, and with a sake content of 2.0 and an acidity of 1.6, it has a mellow, medium-mouth flavor that brings out the gentle taste of Hitsumi.

・Junmai sake from Akabu Sake Brewery

Also, for people who don't drink too much, it is very popular and tends to sell out even on mail order.

AKABU MOUNTAIN Junmai is recommended.

Since it is an unprocessed sake, it has a strong taste but a refreshing aftertaste, and the alcohol content is 14%, which is low for a sake, so even people who are not used to drinking sake will find it easy to drink.

If you relax and enjoy Iwate's famous sake with a hitsumi snack, you will be able to relax your tired mind and body.

summary

Hitsumi is a local dish from the Kitakami region of Iwate Prefecture in which flour is kneaded, rolled out thinly, torn by hand, and simmered with vegetables in soup stock. I found that since there is no fixed seasoning for the soup stock, it is easy for each family to adapt it.

Please find a Hitsumi recipe that suits you and enjoy it with Iwate's delicious sake.