Culinary specialties of Iwate Prefecture 岩手県の名物料理

Published on : 06/04/2018
by : Ph.L

Northern Japanese cuisine

Nestled in the north of the island of Honshu, the prefecture of Iwate is one of the regions which will host the Rugby World Cup in 2019. If it is mainly known for its mountains and its green cities, it is also renowned in all of Japan for its gastronomy. Discovery of some of its culinary specialties.

1. The Jajamen of Morioka

Belonging to the "Three famous pastas of Morioka" with reimen and w anko s oba , jajamen have made the capital of Iwate prefecture famous throughout the archipelago. Very similar to udon , this pasta is traditionally served in a broth accompanied by onion, cucumber and meat cooked in miso. If you go through Morioka, you will have no trouble finding them. Very inexpensive, jajamen are a must in Morioka and the locals are used to eating them throughout the year.

2.The reimen of Morioka

Unlike jajamen , reimen are eaten only in summer . Made from wheat flour, these cold noodles have a somewhat special history. Although today they are undoubtedly on Iwate Prefecture's specialty list, they have long been associated with the Korean community in northern Japan . It was not until the 1950s that the latter popularized them in Morioka, during the golden age of yakiniku (Korean barbecue).

Inspired by naengmyoen , a Korean soup made with buckwheat flour noodles, potatoes and sweet potatoes, the reimen recipe is now typically Japanese. On the menu ? Cold noodles, beef broth and kimchi , to which are regularly added a few seasonal fruits such as watermelon or pineapple .

Les Reimen de Morioka — The Reimen of Morioka
Flick/hirotomo

3. Morioka wanko soba

Derived from the word wanko meaning ''bowl'' in the Morioka dialect , wanko soba refers to soba (buckwheat pasta) that is served in a bowl in small portions . Not enough to fill the stomach you say and that's the reason! Much more than just a dish, this pasta is actually associated with the " Wanko Soba Challenge ", a local tradition of eating as much soba as possible in one meal. Once your bowl is finished, there's no time to take a breather: the staff immediately refills you, shouting " Hai dan dan " (''More! More!'') of encouragement!

If you want to test your limits (and incidentally that of your stomach), know that many restaurants in Morioka offer this challenge, like the Azumaya Soba Shop 10 minutes by bus from the city's main station, specialist in wanko soba for nearly 100 years. For 3,000 yen (23€), you can try to break the establishment's record: 500 bowls in one meal! Who says better ?

4. Kamaishi Ramen

Host city of the next Rugby World Cup in 2019, Kamaishi is renowned for its ramen . Their particularity? This noodle is thinner than the average ramen and is only dipped in soy sauce . Very light and easy to make, this dish was originally used as a snack for factory workers after a long day of work. Today you can find it in most restaurants in the city.

See also: Kamaishi, steel city

Les ramen de Kamaishi — Kamaishi ramen
Flick/ Daniel Y. Go

5. Iwate Wagyu Beef

Recognized worldwide, Japanese beef, known as ' ' wagyu beef'' is one of the most tender meats in the world . Although the most famous variety remains that of Kobe, there are nevertheless some in other regions of Japan, such as Iwate, where it has been cooked for centuries.

Unlike other wagyu oxen whose coat is black , Iwate oxen have a nice brown color . Raised on the heights of the prefecture, their meat is also very tender and tasty . This is why it can be eaten as a steak , as well as in s habu - s habu (Japanese fondue) or on the grill .

Boeuf Wagyu à la sauce soja — Wagyu beef with soy sauce
Flick/cplbasilisk

Shabu-shabu au boeuf Wagyu — Wagyu beef shabu-shabu
Wikimedia

6. Ichinoseki mochi

While mochi is popular all over Japan, these small sticky rice cakes are a specialty of the city of Ichinoseki in southern Iwate Prefecture. There, you can find all kinds , from shrimp, to sesame, to soy or red beans!

A veritable local institution, some restaurants even offer meals consisting solely of m ochi , from appetizer to dessert . Like the Sekinoichi restaurant, located a 10-minute walk from Ichinoseki station, which offers ''special mochi '' menus for less than 2,000 yen (15€).

Mochi à la pâte de haricot — Bean Paste Mochi
Flick/avlxyz

Mochi à la glace au thé vert — Green tea ice cream mochi
Wikimedia

7. Nanbu senbei of Aomori

A specialty of Aomori , the prefecture that borders the north of Iwate, nanbu senbei is also very popular in the neighboring prefecture. Made from wheat, this small dry cake is very popular with young and old alike. Although there are several varieties of nanbu senbei , the best known are those with peanut , pistachio , and apple .