Two Japanese fish cakes (Kamaboko), seven beautiful designs! Make ordinary fish cake into decorative designs on this Oshogatu (Japanese New Year)!
Oshogatu (Japanese New Year) is the biggest celebration in Japan, and even the everyday food like Kamaboko gets a total make-over for this happy occasion!
Kamaboko (かまぼこ or 蒲鉾) is a Japanese fish cake, a type of cured surimi. It is made by forming various white fish paste steamed into semicylindrical log shape on a wooden block.
Kamaboko is usually sliced and served chilled or unheated, sometimes with some type of dipping sauces. You can also find kamaboko in hot soups, rice dishes, and fried noodles.
Red (Pink)-skinned and white kamaboko are typically served at celebratory and holiday meals, as red and white are considered to bring good luck. Kamaboko is flexible in texture so it is often cut into different decorative shapes and designs.
I’ll show you how to make seven beautiful kamaboko decorations, from easy to slightly difficult. Each design has special meaning that is appropriately auspicious for the New Year.
Watch 7 Beautiful Designs to Cut Japanese Fish Cake
Two Japanese fish cakes (Kamaboko), seven beautiful designs! Make ordinary fish cake into decorative designs on this Oshogatu (Japanese New Year)!
1. Checkered Pattern (Ichimatsu 市松)
The checkered pattern is the easiest and quickest to make. All you need is both pink and white kamaboko fish cakes. Slice them in halves and stack together. No fancy skill is required!
2. Pine Needle (Matsuba 松葉)
Pine needle design gives a nice 3 dimensions even though the design may not be as obvious. It’s a great fish cake design for your appetizer platter which doesn’t require any knife cutting skill.
3. Knot (Musubi 結び)
The knot design is universal and it is very pretty to look at on a platter or as a garnish on top of the food. The elasticity of the fish cake makes it possible to create this beautiful design.
4. Reins (Tazuna 手綱)
This design focuses the patterns on top of Kamaboko. If you are using a small platter with little room for 3 dimensional motifs, you can still upgrade your ordinary slice of fish cake into a pretty visual design on the top.
5. Rose (Kohaku Bara 紅白薔薇)
Use red-skin and white kamaboko fish cakes for this rose design. Girls would love this decorative design in their bento box! Other happy occasions that you can use is for garnish on Chirashi Sushi on Girl’s Day (March 3 in Japan).
6. Peacock (Kujaku 孔雀)
Peacock design is probably my favorite of all designs that I share here. The red skin of the fish cake makes a perfect peacock’s eyespot. This design requires some fine motor skill to cut the fish cake into thin slices, and the use of chopsticks to create the delicate shape (particularly useful if you have big fingers).
7. Pine Tree (Matsu 松)
This deign is the traditional Japanese pine tree pattern. Slightly complicated to make, but the final result makes it truly special and unique. I recommend watching the video for this design.
Enjoy 7 Beautiful Designs to Cut Japanese Fish Cake?
Aside from presenting them in decorative patterns, you can also make a simple appetizer dish using kamaboko fish cake and salmon roe (ikura).
I hope you have fun decorating kamaboko fish cake. Japanese New Year is a special time to spend with your loved ones, and making these delicacies in the kitchen is one of the creative ways to kindle the relationship.
Oh Nami – these are just SO beautiful! Remember staring at them in food display windows in Tokyo food streets way back . . . never tried to make : am bolder now 🙂 ! But even if just cut and served with salmon roe . . . what an appetizing picture, especially for New Year . . . hope you and the family will find it happy and successful!
Hi Eha! Thank you for your kind comment! Hope you have a wonderful 2018, Eha!
Wow! Nami it’s so so lovely.Excellent..One day i must try
Thank you very much for sharing
Hi Tina! Thank you for your kind words! Happy New Year!
Lovely. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you for checking this post, Jennifer! 🙂
Kamaboko never looked so pretty! I love the peacock and rose–they’re almost too pretty to eat! Happy New Year to you and your family!
Happy New Year to you and your family, Donna! Thank you for your kind words and support all the time. xoxo
Gosh its so dainty!!! They are too pretty to eat ;’D
Thank you Aubrey!
THANKYOU FOR FABULOUS RECIPES.
Thank you for your kind words, Liz!
Domoarigato Thank you so much for your Kamaboko fishcake suggestions. My husband loves these. Can you say what type of fish these are made from please.
Hi Jean! Usually it’s not clear as it is used from different types of fish? Kamaboko is made by forming various white fish paste steamed into semicylindrical log shape on a wooden block.
Sugoi! I think I HAVE to try the matsu design. My adult kids will be so impressed! I’ll have to take pix to show my Nihonjin mom. She’ll be impressed too! Thank you for this instruction on making “plain old kamaboko” so gorgeous!
Hi Erika! Isn’t it fun? Kamaboko is very pliable/flexible, so it’s very forgiving even you make a mistake. Hope your family was impressed by your creations! 🙂
Hi,Nami! The designs are gorgeous. I tried making them with my sister and she also had to admit that they were absolutely beautiful!
Hi Ashlynn! Yay, that’s wonderful! Thank you so much for your kind feedback. 🙂