Ika no Sugata Fry: A Classic Japanese Squid Cracker
Summer is nearly upon us. It’s the perfect season for icy chilled beer, and when drinking beer, we Japanese usually prepare “Otsumami (おつまみ)”
Otsumami is a Japanese word for snack foods that are eaten with alcoholic beverages like beer, and the representative example includes these Japanese dried squid snacks, “Surume (するめ)”, “Noshi-Ika (のしイカ)”, and “Saki-Ika (さきイカ)”.
In addition to these, there is actually one more Japanese squid snack that shouldn’t be forgotten when we talk about Otsumami, about which I will talk today.
Ika no Sugata Fry (いかの姿フライ)
What I introduce here is called “Ika no Sugata Fry (いかの姿フライ)”, which we Japanese often enjoy as a snack accompaniment for beer and other alcoholic drinks, together with Surume, Noshi-Ika, and Saki-Ika.
The Japanese Otsumami snack, Ika no Sugata Fry is actually a classic deep-fried squid cracker that has long been loved in Japan.
The product I picked up this time is a kind of value pack because it contains a bunch of Ika no Sugata Fry crackers in the package.
As you can see from the shape above, the snack name, “Ika no Sugata Fry (いかの姿フライ)” loosely means “fries with the shape of a whole squid”.
Ingredients
Next, let’s see the ingredients. Based on the list on the back of the package, this Japanese “Ika Fry (イカフライ)” snack mainly consists of wheat flour, squid, bread crumbs, starch, fish paste, vegetable protein (including soybeans), and eggs, and is seasoned with salt, sugar, sweeteners, and spices.
Taste
Thus, this Japanese squid cracker is sweet and savory. It has a nice crunch and is not oily at all, and I think this Japanese treat is similar in taste and texture to the Ikaten snack that is known as a specialty of Hiroshima Prefecture.
Where to Buy
The squid cracker Ika no Sugata Fry is one of the most loved Otsumami snacks in Japan, so it is available in most supermarkets and convenience stores around the country.
