# Tako Momiuri ｜ Our Regional Cuisines

**Cuisine Name**: Tako Momiuri

**Region**: Our Regional Cuisines

## Main Lore Areas
All of Nara Prefecture

## Main Ingredients Used
Octopus, cucumber, white sesame, vinegar, etc.

## History, Origin, and Related Events
‘Tako Momiuri’ is a salad marinated octopus, round-sliced cucumber salted and rubbed in salt, and Japanese vinegarette. Octopus is used wishing to grow rice grounded on the field, like octopus suckers sticking strong, and the dish is offered to the god of paddy fields in the end of the harvest to express appreciation for the year. Octopus is considered as a lucky food and often eaten in the auspicious occasions like weddings or shrine visits for babies. ‘Momiuri’ used julienne cut fried thin tofu instead octopus is a traditional home dish in summer.

## Opportunities and Times of Eating Habits
It is often served in summer because cucumber, one of summer vegetables, is used. It is also served at the ceremony called ‘Sanaburi’ to celebrate the harvest in autumn.

## How to Eat
There used to be many types of hard cucumbers and people had to rub them with salt until the cucumbers got soft. Nowadays, however, it’s enough to massage them with salt gently as current cucumber is softer. It is served as an appetizer with alcohol drink due to its refreshing vinegar.

## Efforts for Preservation and Succession
(Outline of traditions, preservation societies, social media use, modern approaches for commercialization etc.)It is often prepared at home until now, and the recipe is passing down from parents to children.

## Ingredients
- Cucumber: 200g
- Salt: As needed
- Boiled octopus: 60g
- Roasted white sesame: 4g
- [Awase-zu (sweet and sour dressing)] Vinegar: 2 tbsp.
- [Awase-zu (sweet and sour dressing)] Soy sauce: 1 tsp.
- [Awase-zu (sweet and sour dressing)] Sugar: 1 tsp.

## Recipe
1. 1. Cut cucumbers into round slice, then massage with salt until they get soft.
2. 2. Cut boiled octopuses into bite-sized.
3. 3. Mix vinegar, soy sauce and sugar to make Awase-zu (= sweet and sour dressing).
4. 4. Squeeze cucumbers to remove liquid. Add octopus and marinate with Awase-zu.
5. 5. Plate it and sprinkle roasted white sesames to serve.

## Provider Information
provider : Nara Prefecture

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