One aspect of Japanese cuisine that is often difficult for foreigners to embrace is raw eggs. It seems like there are not many people outside Japan who consume raw eggs like we do. I have heard that in Iran, they eat rice with raw egg yolks, but eating the entire egg raw may be unique to Japan. If you know about other countries’ practices, please do share!
However, when we say we eat raw eggs, it doesn’t mean we consume the entire egg as is. There’s a scene in “Rocky” where Sylvester Stallone drinks five raw eggs, but even for us Japanese, that’s a rather unsettling scene.
I used to not be fond of raw eggs when I was a child. I liked the yolk part, but the slimy texture of the egg white wasn’t my favorite. Now, it’s a food I can’t get enough of!
Japanese food with Raw Eggs
In Japan, we enjoy raw eggs in various ways, but let me introduce two of them here.
Tamago-Kake-Gohan (Raw Egg Over Rice)
The first one is “Tamago-Kake-Gohan” (raw egg over rice). It’s probably the most familiar way for Japanese people to consume raw eggs. Simply put, you scoop rice onto a bowl, place a raw egg on top, pour soy sauce over it, and that’s it! It’s an incredibly easy recipe and a lifesaver for busy mornings. The dish is so common that we often refer to it as “TKG,” taking the initials from its name. “Tamago” means egg, “Kake” means pouring, and “Gohan” means rice. You can also enjoy it with bonito flakes, sesame oil, or nori to add different flavors!
Sukiyaki
The second way is “Sukiyaki.” Sukiyaki is a well-known Japanese dish even abroad. When I was living overseas, it was one of the dishes I looked forward to having when I visited Japan. Did you know that we also use raw eggs in sukiyaki? When we eat sukiyaki, we prepare a bowl of beaten eggs, and dip the meat and vegetables cooked in the special sweet soy sauce into the beaten eggs. The delightful combination of the sauce’s flavors and the creaminess of the egg makes it incredibly delicious! Eating it with rice makes it an even better dish. It’s so good that you won’t be able to stop eating rice.
For more details, click below link!
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I understand that many people may find raw eggs off-putting, but if you’re willing to give it a try, starting with sukiyaki is recommended! Even if you don’t like raw eggs, sukiyaki can still be enjoyed without them, so no need to worry.
Not all Japanese people love raw eggs, as some of my friends are not fond of them. However, it’s undeniably a widely known and beloved way of eating among the Japanese.
