japanese osechi-ryori

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I was honored to be invited by my friend Magi for the New Years dinner. Magi prepared for us an unforgettable meal.

Japanese people consider New Year's one of the most pleasurable times of the year. Especially during the first three days of January, most families try to reunite and gather all their members together.

Magi’s Chirashi Sushi

Japanese Ingredients

Osechi - Japanese New Year’s dish

Dating back some 1,000 years, Osechi-ryori originally referred to banquets held to celebrate the transition from one season to the next. It is one of the most exciting and elaborated preparations of Japanese dining, full of variety, vivid colors and appealing flavors.

The menu varies from one region to the other, but traditionally the assortment includes many pickled, smoked, and marinated dishes, that can be prepared in advance, with little extra work to be done on the main days of celebration.

The word “Osechi” means seasonal festival. The food that was eaten to celebrate, wish for good harvest and keep the bad spirit away on these seasonal festivals was called “Osechi Cooking”. There are five seasonal festivals per lunar calendar, but nowadays “Osechi” specifically refers to the one prepared on New Year.

Authentic New Year dish “Osechi” does not only look beautiful and has an excellent nutritional balance, but also each dish is filled with good wishes of long life, happiness, promotion, success, etc.

Osechi was also followed by Chikuzen (seasoned vegetables), Sekihan (sticky rice), and Ozouni (traditional soup).

KURIKINTON
Sweetened chestnuts and mashed sweet potatoes

Symbolizes wealth and victory

KOUHAKU- NAMASU
Marinated daikon radish and carrot

Red and white are an auspicious color in Japan, symbolizes peace

TAZUKURI or GOMAME
Dried sardines

Represents a rich harvest

KAMABOKO
Fish cake

Red and white are an auspicious color in Japan. Because the shape is similar to sunrise, it is often eaten to celebrate a new departure

Click on the image above to see the details of the single dishes.

CHIKUZEN-NI or NISHIME
Boiled and seasoned vegetables

Symbolizes fertility and good prospect of the future

OZOUNI
New year's traditional soup

SEKIHAN
sticky rice with red beans
red is an auspicious color in Japan, prepared in the hope of prosperity and peace

TATAKI-GOBOU
Marinated burdock

Represents a rich harvest and safety, and also wish for strong foundation and perseverance

DATEMAKI
Rolled sweetened egg omelet

Represents great advance in education and culture

KAZUNOKO
Salted herring roe
Symbolizes fertility and wishes you the joy of many children

TORINIKU-NO-YASAIMAKI
Chicken roll with vegetable, modern version

KUROMAME
Black beans

Prepared in the hope of prosperity and peace

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