Harusame vs. Shirataki Konnyaku Noodles

As you may know, Harusame (春雨) is the Japanese take on Chinese fěntiáo, known as glass or potato noodles in English-speaking countries.

The Asian food is healthy and similar to Shirataki (白滝), but its main ingredient is starch from green beans, corn, or white or sweet potatoes.

Shirataki (白滝) vs. Harusame (春雨)

Shirataki (白滝)Shirataki

On the other hand, Shirataki is a thin thread-like Konnyaku noodle made with the powdered bulb of the konjac potato plant.

While Harusame is a dried food, Shirataki is a firm, fresh jelly noodle whose about 96 to 97 percent consists of water.

Etymology

Harusame (春雨)Dried Harusame

Japanese glass noodles have the name Harusame (春雨: literally, Spring Rain) because they are like spring rain when pushed out through holes in the production process.

Likewise, the literal meaning of Shirataki is White Waterfall, as they look like that when extruded in the making.

Nutritional Values

Shirataki in Yosenabe (寄せ鍋)Shirataki Noodles in Yosenabe

Next, let’s see the nutritional values of each noodle based on the articles 春雨 (食品) and コンニャク on Japanese Wikipedia.

Compared to dry Harusame, Konnyaku or Shirataki is low-calorie as the main components are water and glucomannan, but the former increases by 3 to 8 times when boiled and rehydrated. 

Mapo Harusame (麻婆春雨)Mapo Harusame

Nutritional Values per 100 Grams
  Dry Green Bean Harusame Ita Konnyaku (Shirataki)
Calories 356 kcal 6.9 kcal
Carbohydrates 87.5 g 3.3 g
– Dietary fiber 4.1 g 3.0 g
Fat 0.4 g 0.1 g
Protein 0.2 g 0.1 g
Minerals    
– Sodium 14 mg 2 mg
– Potassium 13 mg 44 mg
– Calcium 20 mg 68 mg
– Magnesium 3 mg 5 mg
– Phosphorus 10 mg 7 mg
– Iron 0.5 mg 0.6 mg
– Zinc 0.1 mg 0.2 mg
– Copper 0.01 mg  
– Manganese   0.05 mg
– Selenium 1 µg 0 µg
Other components    
– Water 11.8 g 96.2 g
– Insoluble dietary fiber 4.1 g  

Uses

Harusame Salad (春雨サラダ)Harusame Salad

As for usage, we often use Harusame in Nimono (simmered dishes), Itamemon (stir-fries), and salad dishes after rehydrating it, while Shirataki typically comes in Nimono and Nabemono (hot pots).

Both noodles can substitute for wheat noodles in ramen, udon, or pasta, and popular instant products include Acecook Soup Harusame (to be continued in the next post).

Shirataki in Oden (おでん)Shirataki in Oden

Tomo

Hi, I'm Tomo, a Japanese blogger living in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. For the purpose of enriching your life, I would like to introduce things about Japan on this blog, especially unique Japanese products, cooking recipes, cultures, and facts and trivia.

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