Nattō

Natto (Japanese: なっとう (hiragana), 納豆 (kanji); nattō or nattou) is a traditional Japanese food made by fermenting soybeans. Natto is known for its strong musty smell and unusual slimy texture, which makes sticky strings when stirred and eaten. In order to balance some of the strong flavors, it is usually eaten on top of rice with mentsuyu, a soy sauce-based condiment, or Japanese mustard. Whether Natto is popular or not depends on regions in Japan.^[1] For example, eating Natto as a custom is not so popular in the Kansai region of Japan.^[2]

Natto is commonly eaten over rice.

Types

There are many kinds of Natto.^[1] First, Natto is classified under two types of Natto, Itohiki Natto and Ji Natto. Also Itohiki Natto has three kinds of Natto, Marudaizu Natto, Hikiwari Natto, and Goto Natto. Of these different types, Marudaizu Natto and Hikiwari Natto are most commonly eaten.

Availability

An example of boxed natto with a packet of mustard and a packet of tsuyu.

Natto may be bought in stores in Styrofoam boxes. Sometimes, they come with a mustard packet and a packet of tsuyu to eat with the natto.

Preparation

A natto temakizushi – a hand roll.

Although it is not customary to cook natto, natto may be prepared in food items like sushi or donburi. Donburi is any Japanese dish served with rice in a bowl. Natto can be made into a donburi by adding natto and other items like tuna or egg to rice inside a bowl. "Nattojiru" made by adding natto to miso soup as a seasoning. Natto can also be used as a topping for Soba, Udon, Spaghetti, Okonomiyaki and so on.

Spices and Condiments

In general, soy sauce, tsuyu, and karashi mustard are used to flavor Natto, but some people use egg, leek, Japanese ginger, grated radish, laver (a type of edible seaweed), okra, and other ingredients.