Tanuki Udon - [Food lore | Yokai]

Tanuki-Udon - [Yokai | Food lore] - 狸饂飩, たぬきうどん

• About: Tasty Crispy Tenkasu! (Fried tempura bits) scattered atop thick udon noodles! a dish made popular in the kanto region of eastern japan. Made with thick chewy udon noodles, often served in a steamy dashi broth and topped with crunchy golden tempura bits (called tenkasu.) - Veggies & other toppings of various types are  often topped on the side. (hard-boiled eggs are a popular choice.) - in the summertime; the dish is popular to serve chilled as a refreshment to beat the heat!

There are several theories as to why this dish is named after Tanuki: One of them (& perhaps the most compelling is that its the result of a play on the words; “Tane-nuki” (タネ抜き), which means 'no filling' referring to the crunchy tenkasu topping (often the main topping on the dish.) which resembles the messy leaves tanuki use. - Others insist that perhaps its named that because the broth is a darker colour (like a tanukis fur, at least compared to kitsune udon.) Others insist that its named that because tanuki's are associated with gold. (the tenkasu is literally 'golden balls' or kintama) each region of Japan has its own distinct style of Tanuki Udon with a unique combination of toppings; (the main constant being the tenkasu) So, depending which region you're in, the ingredients used will vary and the dish might be completely different! - This inconsistency might bring tanuki folklore to mind; legend has it that Bake-Tanuki are famously Shape-Shifters! 

[tanuki using their 'magical sacks' for mischeif & labour edo period prints]

-  [for even more about mythological Tanuki, check out my tanuki section!]

[art by samkalensky (thats me!) part of my food lore & yokai sticker collections! follow & support for many more!]