# Mamakari no suzuke ｜ Our Regional Cuisines

**Cuisine Name**: Mamakari no suzuke

**Region**: Our Regional Cuisines

## Main Lore Areas
Seto Inland Sea coast

## Main Ingredients Used
Mamakari

## History, Origin, and Related Events
Vinegared mamakari is widely known as a local dish of Okayama Prefecture. "Mamakari" is the name of a small fish called in the Okayama region, and "sappa" in the Kanto region. It is mainly caught in the Seto Inland Sea, and its season is around October, when it is at its most delicious with a lot of fat. It is said that the name "mamakari" comes from the fact that the fish is so tasty that you have to go and borrow (kariru in Japanese) rice (mama in dialects)." In Okayama, it is prepared in various ways, including pickled in vinegar, sashimi, and grilled with salt. Right after pickled, the bones are hard, but the more they are soaked in vinegar, the softer they become, and the more tender they become, allowing the entire fish to be eaten, bones and all, down to the tail fin. Mamakari-zushi is vinegared mamakari made into nigirizushi (hand-formed sushi) or oshizushi (pressed sushi).

## Opportunities and Times of Eating Habits
Along with mamakarizushi, mamakari is a typical dish for festivals and family celebrations in Okayama.

## How to Eat
Remove the head and guts of the mamakari, open the belly, and remove the backbone. Sprinkle with salt and let sit for 1 hour. Wash mamakari in vinegar and marinate in sweet vinegar. Combine vinegar, salt, dashi kelp, ginger and sugar to make ama-zu (sweet vinegar). Garnish with garlic or white onion if desired.

## Efforts for Preservation and Succession
(Outline of traditions, preservation societies, social media use, modern approaches for commercialization etc.)Until a decade ago, mamakari no suzuke was made at home, but now people buy it cooked. In 2008, the "Mamakari Promotion Committee" was established with the aim of promoting mamakari, a specialty of Okayama, and has been disseminating information on mamakari cuisine and other topics.

## Ingredients
- Mamakari: 20 fish
- [Sweet vinegar] Vinegar: 1 cup
- [Sweet vinegar] Salt: 2 tsp.
- [Sweet vinegar] Dashi Kombu (kelp): 10cm square
- [Sweet vinegar] Ginger: 1 piece

## Recipe
1. 1. Remove the scales, head and guts from the mamakari, open the belly, and remove the backbone. Sprinkle with salt and let sit for about 1 hour.
2. 2. Make ama-zu (sweet vinegar) by combining vinegar, salt, dashi kelp, ginger and sugar.
3. 3. Wash the fish with a little vinegar (not included in the amount) and marinate in the ama-zu.

## Provider Information
provider : Kurashiki Nutrition Improvement Council

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