Hikado is a hearty and flavorful stew that displays Nagasaki’s wealthy historical past of cultural trade. Impressed by Portuguese delicacies and tailored with native elements, this dish advanced over time to go well with Japanese tastes. With its mild sweetness and comforting texture, hikado stays a beloved a part of Nagasaki’s meals tradition. Learn on to find how this distinctive dish got here to be and why it continues to be loved at the moment!
What’s Hikado?

“Hikado,” an area dish from Nagasaki Prefecture. It’s a mild-tasting stew made by simmering diced fish, meat, and greens in broth and thickening it with grated candy potato. The unique hikado thickened with bread, however after bread turned unavailable, folks began thickening it with candy potato.
Hikado Historical past

The phrase “hikado” originates from the Portuguese phrase picado, which means “to cut finely.” After Nagasaki opened its port, missionaries and merchants from Portugal and Spain launched stews made with beef and pork. Since meat was scarce, they started utilizing regionally caught fish and greens. Initially, hikado was thickened with bread, however when bread turned arduous to search out because of the ban on Christianity, candy potatoes changed it. Nagasaki, recognized for its choice for sweeter seasonings because of the quick access to sugar, embraced the sweetness and thickness of candy potatoes. This adaptation turned fashionable and ultimately established hikado as an area dish in Nagasaki.
FAQ
- What’s Hikado?
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Hikado is a stew-like dish with diced elements, an area dish that has been handed down in Nagasaki for the reason that early 1600s.
- The place does the title Hikado come from?
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It comes from the Portuguese phrase “picado,” which implies “finely chopped.
- What are the primary elements in Hikado?
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Fish (akin to yellowtail), hen, candy potatoes, daikon radish, carrots, dried shiitake mushrooms, and many others.
Hikado Recipe
Substances for 3 individuals | Measurements |
---|---|
Pork shoulder | 250g |
Salad oil | 14g |
Daikon radish | 45g |
Carrots | 45g |
Candy potato | 60g |
Dried shiitake mushrooms | 40g |
Dashi inventory | 1500g |
Tuna | 50g |
Candy potato (grated) | 120g |
Inexperienced onion | 5g |
Mild soy sauce | 10g |
Salt | 4g |
The right way to make Hikado?
STEP
Put together the Pork and Greens
Start by dicing the pork shoulder into small items appropriate for grilling. Warmth the salad oil in a pan and sauté the diced daikon radish, carrots, and candy potato till they’re barely tender. Add the dried shiitake mushrooms to the pan and cook dinner for an additional minute to launch their taste.
STEP
Mix Inventory and Pork
Subsequent, pour the dashi inventory into the pan with the greens and convey it to a boil. Add the sake, diced tuna, and grilled pork shoulder to the pan, letting every thing cook dinner collectively for about 5 minutes, permitting the flavors to meld.
STEP
Thicken the Soup and Serve
Add the grated candy potato to the pot, stirring to thicken the soup. Season the combination with mild soy sauce and salt to style. As soon as the soup has thickened and is well-seasoned, switch it to a plate and garnish with finely chopped inexperienced onions.
Closing Ideas

Hikado is greater than only a stew—it’s a dish that carries the historical past and flavors of Nagasaki’s cultural trade. Its wealthy, comforting style and distinctive mix of elements make it a must-try for anybody exploring Japanese delicacies. When you have the possibility to go to Japan, be sure you search out hikado and expertise this flavorful piece of historical past for your self!
Should you loved studying about hikado, you may also like different comforting Japanese stews like Okinawa oden, buri daikon, or kenchin-jiru—every providing a singular style of regional flavors and historical past.