Ika no Sugata Fry – Classic deep-fried Japanese squid crackers
Summer is nearly upon us.It’s the perfect season for chilled beer.When drinking beer, we Japanese usually prepare “Otsumami (おつまみ)”, which refers to the finger foods and nibbles that are eaten along with alcoholic drinks like beer.
If I give some typical examples of unique Japanese Otsumami, what come to my mind right away are 3 types of Japanese dried squid snacks, Surume, Noshi-ika, and Saki-ika.In addition to them, there is one more Japanese squid snack that shouldn’t be forgotten when we talk about Otsumami.
Ika no Sugata Fry – Classic Japanese squid crackers known as Otsumami snacks
It is Ika no Sugata Fry (いかの姿フライ) (Amazon.com) that we Japanese commonly have along with beer and other alcoholic drinks.The Japanese snack is the classic deep-fried squid cracker that has been loved by Japanese people for a long time.The item I picked up this time includes a bunch of Ika Sugata Fry snacks in the package, so it is a kind of value pack.
The Japanese snack name, “Ika no Sugata Fry (いかの姿フライ)” loosely means the deep-fried squid snack with a whole shape of squid, as you can see from the photo.
The ingredients of Ika no Sugata Fry snacks
Speaking of the ingredients of Ika Sugata Fry, the Japanese squid snack is made mainly from wheat flour, squid, bread crumbs, starch, fish paste, vegetable proteins (including soybeans), and eggs, and it is seasoned with salt, sugar, sweeteners, and spices.
Thus, this Japanese squid cracker has a little salty, mild, sweet flavor as a whole, and these are crunchy in texture.Ika Sugata Fry is similar to the Ikaten snack well-known as a specialty food of Hiroshima Prefecture, in flavor and texture.
Conclusion : Ika no Sugata Fry
Not only does Ika no Sugata Fry go perfect with chilled beer, but the Japanese squid cracker can also be used as ingredients for various foods.
For example, small pieces of Ika Sugata Fry snacks and Yakisoba noodles are the combination I highly recommend.Besides, bits of the squid cracker can also be used for salads as a substitute for croutons.
If you get a chance, just give it a try and enjoy chilled beer along with it!The classic Japanese squid cracker, Ika no Sugata Fry (いかの姿フライ) is worth a try if you are a snack lover.
