Impress your guests with this stunning Kamaboko Fish Cake with Salmon Roe appetizer recipe! Putting these beautiful bites together is so much easier than it looks. They can be enjoyed as part of a Japanese New Year’s dishes (Osechi Ryori) or a holiday hors d’oeuvre.
Whether you need just one more dish for your lacquered jubako (square bento box) to complete Osechi Ryori (Japanese New Year’s Food) or want a quick hors d’oeuvre before serving the main dish, this Kamaboko Fish Cake with Salmon Roe will definitely surprise your guests with its pretty appearance.
Fragrant shiso leaves and salty salmon roe sandwiched in between the mild-flavored fish cake, the combination is delicate and flavorful.
Colors, Flavors, & Textures for the Holiday Presentation
Despite its deceptively fancy presentation, the recipe is very simple and easy to make. You simply make a small slit in Kamaboko, stuff shiso leaf in, and top with salmon roe.
The orange jewel-like salmon roe gives contrast to the green shiso leaf, while the pink and white kamaboko creates a nice soft background against shiso and salmon roe. They are totally festive with an unexpected, sophisticated touch.
Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want to look for substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here.
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Impress your guests with this stunning Kamaboko Fish Cake with Salmon Roe appetizer recipe! Putting these beautiful bites together is so much easier than it looks. They can be enjoyed as part of a Japanese New Year's dishes (Osechi Ryori) or a holiday hors d'oeuvre.
- 1 package Kamaboko (fish cake)
- 10 Shiso leaves (Ooba) (perilla)
- ½ oz Ikura (salmon roe)
-
Gather all the ingredients.
- Trim off both ends of the kamaboko (optional). Cut the kamaboko into 1/2 inch slices. Before you cut next slice, make a 1/4 inch slit in the middle of the slice. Continue to cut through and alternate between the cut and the slit.
- Cut the bottom of the kamaboko and remove from the wooden base.
- Cut off the stem of shiso leaves and stuff a shiso leaf into the slit of each kamaboko slice.
- Top with salmon roe. Serve chilled.
Recipe by Namiko Chen of Just One Cookbook. All images and content on this site are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without my permission. If you’d like to share this recipe on your site, please re-write the recipe and link to this post as the original source. Thank you.
So very pretty. I really should try and find some kamaboko.
This looks so pretty!
Wish you a wonderful 2014 ahead!
Perfect for Osechi-ryori! Will definitely try this.
How pretty! I would love to try the recipes that use fresh shiso leaves, but unfortunately I haven’t been able to find anyone who sells them where I live. Is there another green more readily available that can be substituted for shiso that you would recommend? Thanks!
Happy New Year Rin! I’m sorry for my late response. Shiso has very unique flavor and I can’t find anything that’s “similar” to shiso. However, another reader commented below that he used mint leaves and worked well. Hope that helps. 🙂
Simple but so very pretty!
Happy New Year to you and your family, Nami 🙂
that really is beautiful, Nami. The shiso leaf brought back happy memories of Tokyo for me. Happy New Year!
best wishes, Jennyx
Nami, I could sit and gaze at these photos for hours — beautiful, simple, elegant — but eating them would be even better. (The appetizers, not the photos, lol!) Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year, too!
Hi Nami,
Beautiful photo!
I’ve had kamaboko with udon and ramen soups.
Happy New Y ear Candice! Kamaboko is great by itself (like this recipe) or in noodle soups. 🙂
This is just so pretty and elegant. And it looks more like candy lol. Happy New Year!
So pretty and refined.
Best wishes for 2014!
Cheers,
Rosa
I love salmon roe. Yum!
I love fish cake. This is so easy, which would make a nice appetizer. Thanks for sharing some amazing recipes in 2013. I can’t wait to see all the yummy dishes you would bring next year. Happy New Year!
Gosh, this is so pretty. You’re truly an artist in the kitchen. Good stuff – thanks.
This looks just beautiful! Little problem as far as I am concerned ~ the only ingredient I can access is the salmon roe 🙂 ! So, until I can get closer to matters Japanese I just have to look at the beautiful, elegant photos !! A very, very happy and successful year to come, Namiko-san and all the very best to your family!!!
Happy New Year to you Eha! Wishing 2014 will be a great year for you! xo 🙂
Gorgeous! Love fish cakes….
This is perfect for special celebration…Happy New Year…!!!
So cute, it looks like small candies 🙂
Nami, these are like little treasures – almost too gorgeous to eat!
Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year and the very best for 2014 !
This looks so pretty Nami! What a wonderful dish and recipe 🙂 Wishing you and your adorable family all the best in 2014 and Happy New Year!
Hi Nami,
Wishing you and your loved ones a great 2014 ahead! Cheers!
You have done such a beautiful presentation! It’s a stunning dish. 🙂 Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy and wonderful New Year 2014!! Thank you for your friendship. 🙂
This is so pretty and I have tried this at restaurants. Always wanted to know how to make it. I’m glad you shared it here so I can attempt to do it. Thanks and Happy New Year, Nami!
Gasp! My gosh, Nami, that is incredibly beautiful!!! I just want to stare at it.
Happy New Year, my sweet friend!!
What a pretty and festive dish Nami – Happy New Year!
Surely going to try this today.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 🙂
Happy New Year Sushma! Hope you like this recipe. 🙂
What a pretty dish! Wishing you a happy new year!
Happy New Year to you and your family Nami. What a pretty dish. The colours are just gorgeous. Almost too pretty to eat xx
Oh my goodness this is so pretty and girly!! Thank you so much Nami.
I made this appetizer for our New Year Eve gathering. Instead of Shiso Leaves, I used large Mint leaves and instead of Salmon Roe I used Red Tobiko caviar.
Worked out very well. Everyone at our gathering enjoyed it very much. I wish I made more than two packages of the Fish Cake….
Hi Steve! I’m glad to hear mint worked well and everyone liked it. Thank you so much for your feedback. 🙂
Happy New Year!!
Wow this looks incredible! Happy New Year! I can’t wait to see what else you do this year!
Oh those salmon roe looks so beautiful. It almost look like gems my goodness they are so pretty. Your presentation is always top notch. Happy New Year to you and your family, Nami. 🙂
Looks very pretty!
Happy New Year! May you have more success this year on your blog 🙂
Happy New Year, my friend! Now doesn’t this look gorgeous??!?!?! Thank you for sharing so many inspiring recipes with me this year.
I wish to you and your family a very Happy and Prosperous New Year Nami! What a beautiful appetizer!
Loving your new design, your blog gets better by the day.
Such a pretty and inviting recipe! I love fish cake 😉
Happy New Year, Nami! I’m so glad we connected and look forward to following your journey and building our friendship.
Hello Nami
Hope it is not too late to wish you Happy New Year 2014! Hope this year brings more fulfilling and motivation to you as well as to Just One Cookbook!
Everything you make is so pretty, Nami!
kambako looks so very pretty, I bet I could get my husband to enjoy Japanese food with colored foods. Indians love colored food. ^.^ I wish I could try your fish treat right now Nami, it looks fantastic. Happy New Year to you guys!
ops I meant kamaboko XI
What a pretty item it would be even on a European cocktail plate! I miss my potted shiso which died some time ago… Happy New Year, Nami! I’m looking forward to following your cooking – and not only!- adventures in this new year.
Happy New Year, Nami! I see fish cakes at the Japanese grocery market and love to eat it but never thought to present it this way. How special yet simple to put together. Thanks for sharing. All the best for a happy & healthy 2014!
What a beautiful dish to add to aa bento box, it is so pretty!
Looks like a tasty appetizer! Happy New Year!
Elegant, romantic in a way and beautiful…I love fish cakes and your whole presentation is just stunning, Nami!
Your sushi always blow me away Nami! Just absolutely beautiful!
素敵！確かに重箱できれいにかずる食べ物でしょう。奈美子さんの店でかまぼこを売っておりますか。
残念ならがらかまぼこは売ってません。かまぼこは、チャイニーズやコリアンのマーケットでもたまに手に入るし、日本のスーパーでも売ってます。近所でないですか？
私のお店ではお刺身をメインに売ってます。今までアメリカで食べたお刺身で一番美味しいので自信を持って売っています！
Happy New Year Nami!
This looks awesome!
Nami, this looks too beautiful to eat! Happy New Year!
Do we need to wish the shiso leaves? Or just directly put into fish cake? If I use water to wash it, would it wash away the scent from the leaves?
Hi Maria! Unless you cut the leaf, you won’t lose the scent. I recommend rinsing it and dry with paper towel. 🙂