Japan's Most Famous Fishcake Is a Beloved Emoji and Ramen Topping (2024)

What’s pink and swirly and processed all over? If it’s floating atop a bowl of ramen, it’s probably a slice of narutomaki, the iconic Japanese fishcake.

Inspired by whirlpools in the Naruto Strait, these chewy, bouncy slices represent a formidable natural phenomenon. The swirl in the center of each piece is emblematic of the spiraling ocean water that formspools between Shikoku and Awaji Island every six hours or so. Located along the Shikoku coast, the whirlpools are visible for an hour or two at a time. While it’s best to visit the whirlpools in the spring or summer, when the waters are more intense, narutomaki can be enjoyed year-round.

This processed roll is primarily made of frozen surimi(processed, pureed whitefish), while the pink swirl comes from food coloring.Invented in the 1800s and prepared by slicing and steaming, narutomakihas a history of gracing traditional noodle soups, such as ramen and soba.

The pink-spiraled slice is a striking visual atop Japanese ramen, but noodles aren’t the only platform showcasing the fish cake. Over a dozen styles of narutomaki emoji exist across services such as Google, Facebook, Apple, Twitter, and Microsoft. The narutomaki icon joined Unicode 6.0 in 2010 under the name “Fish Cake With Swirl.”Admittedly, the sweet, fishy taste and buoyant mouthfeel of fishcake isn’t universally popular. However, anyone with a keyboard can reap the benefits of narutomaki’s global virtual presence. Just type the shortcode :fish_cake:

Japan's Most Famous Fishcake Is a Beloved Emoji and Ramen Topping (2024)

FAQs

Japan's Most Famous Fishcake Is a Beloved Emoji and Ramen Topping? ›

What's pink and swirly and processed all over? If it's floating atop a bowl of ramen, it's probably a slice of narutomaki

narutomaki
Narutomaki (鳴門巻き/なると巻き) or naruto (ナルト/なると) is a type of kamaboko, or cured fish surimi produced in Japan.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Narutomaki
, the iconic Japanese fishcake. Inspired by whirlpools in the Naruto Strait, these chewy, bouncy slices represent a formidable natural phenomenon.

What is the Japanese fishcake in ramen? ›

Narutomaki is a popular topping for ramen noodle soup of all flavors (miso, shoyu, and shio, for example) because it adds a pop of color to an otherwise beige-leaning dish and compliments noodle textures. It's also commonly used as a topping for soba and udon noodles.

What does naruto mean fishcake? ›

Naruto, by its literal meaning, refers to the fish cake roll in cup noodles or Japanese ramen, which is the favourite food of Naruto (the character) and the author. As you can see in the pic, naruto is the white round thing with a pink swirl pattern inside, made from fish and so on.

What is the naruto topping in ramen? ›

Narutomaki is actually a type of kamaboko (steamed fish cake). Both have been consumed as a topping, ingredient, and snack. Plus, back in the day they would have been interchangeable. Japanese fish cakes have come a long way since then and today there are around a dozen varieties, all of which are slightly different.

What is a fish cake with swirl? ›

Narutomaki, also known as naruto or narutomaki fish cakes, is commonly used as a noodle topping. These fish cakes are characterized by their unique pink swirl pattern. The main ingredient is white fish paste seasoned with other ingredients, such as salt, sugar, sake, mirin, egg whites, and starch.

What is fishcake made of? ›

Fish cakes are made from ground fish and flour or starch that is formed into small loafs and then steamed or fried. Fish cakes are used in a variety of Japanese dishes such as soups and stews, appetizers and boxed lunches. In the olden days, this fish cake was formed around bamboo (chiku) skewers and cooked.

How do Japanese eat fish cake? ›

Can be eaten as is, or used as an ingredient in nabe hot pot or with udon noodles. ”Osechi-ryori”, the japanese traditional auspicious foods served during the New Year usually have red-and-white kamaboko ("kohaku kamaboko"), with red standing for warding off evil and white standing for purity.

What is the 🍥 emoji? ›

A slice of Japanese narutomaki, a ridged fishcake of processed whitefish with an iconic pink swirl, often served in ramen or oden. Thanks to its distinct swirl, may be used for flair.

Is narutomaki healthy? ›

Yes! Because narutomaki is made from white fish, it contains a lot of high-quality protein and calcium. It's also low in calories and fat, so it's a great ingredient to add if you're trying to maintain a healthy, balanced diet.

Why does Naruto always eat ramen? ›

The most obvious reason for Naruto's love of ramen is that it fits his design motif. Naruto may love ramen, but what he's really all about is spirals. As such, the spiral motif is present throughout the Naruto franchise. The logo of the series is superimposed over a spiral.

Is ramen healthy? ›

While instant ramen is not bad for you, it isn't recommended as a single food daily or multiple times per day on its own due to its high-sodium flavoring packet or broth. Adding additional toppings, such as protein and vegetables, to the wheat noodle and broth base can increase its nutrition profile.

What does Naruto fish cake taste like? ›

Even though it's made from various seafood like shrimp and squid, narutomaki has a mildly fishy taste. It also has a stringy and chewy texture that goes well with the ramen noodles' already chewy texture. This is also the reason why it pairs up well with ramen noodles.

Can my dog eat fish cakes? ›

All my puppies love the fish cakes at treat time. Highly recommended as they are low fat which are essential for him. Introducing our grain free fishcakes! These delicious and nutritious dog treats are made with the freshest, natural ingredients and are the perfect way to show your furry friend how much you care.

What is the little pink thing in ramen? ›

Narutomaki: If you've ever noticed a small white disc with a pink swirl in a bowl of ramen or even a picture of ramen, that's narutomaki or fish cake.

Is Japanese fish cake healthy? ›

Generally, though, Japanese fish cakes are relatively good for you, especially the steamed variety.

What is the white and pink vegetable in ramen? ›

Narutomaki. Have you ever wondered what that cute pink and white spiral thing is that you see in some ramen noodle bowls? That would be Narutomaki. This traditional ramen topping is made by rolling red and white fish paste into a log, cooking it with steam, and cutting it into thin slices.

What is kamaboko fish cake made of? ›

Kamaboko is a type of Japanese fish cake made from pureed white fish, called surimi (ground meat). The fish cake includes binding agents, such as egg whites, and natural flavoring, like sake. Kamaboko is made by steaming, frying, poaching, or grilling the fish cake until it is firm.

What is Japanese dried fish for ramen? ›

Niboshi Ramen – Shoyu

​Niboshi is dried sardines. At Emoto they use 3 types of sardines and 1 type of horse mackerel. These dried fish make up 60% of the broth.

What are the white slices in ramen? ›

You might have noticed that ramen often comes with little pink and white pinwheels on top. These are naruto, one of the most popular types of kamaboko for a ramen topping. Kamaboko is a steamed fish cake made from surimi paste, which is a mix of different fishes, starches, egg white and seasonings.

What are fish shaped Japanese cakes known as? ›

Taiyaki (鯛焼き, lit. 'baked sea bream') is a Japanese fish-shaped cake, commonly sold as street food. It imitates the shape of tai (鯛, red sea bream), which it is named after.

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