Chahan (dish)

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Chahan
Asa chahan by ayustety in Naha, Okinawa.jpg
A chahan fried rice dish prepared with many ingredients, at a restaurant in Naha, Okinawa, Japan
Alternative namesチャーハン/炒飯
Associated cuisineJapan
Created byChinese immigrants
Invented1860s
Main ingredientsFried rice
Gyoza no Ohsho 20211112-03.jpg
Ramen and Chahan (dish)

Chahan (Japanese: チャーハン/炒飯, Hepburn: chāhan), also known as Yakimeshi (Japanese: 焼飯), is a Japanese fried rice dish prepared with rice as a primary ingredient and myriad additional ingredients and seasonings. The dish is typically fried, and can be cooked in a wok. Chahan may have originated in the 1860s from Chinese immigrants arriving at the port of Kobe. Chahan is a staple food in homes in Japan.[1] A variation of the dish is takana chahan. Some restaurants outside Japan serve the dish as a part of their fare.

History[edit]

Chahan may have originated from Chinese immigrants who arrived at the port of Kobe, Japan in the 1860s. In Chinese, fried rice is called chǎofàn (炒飯); these same Chinese characters have a Japanese reading of Chāhan.[2]

Preparation[edit]

Chahan is a Japanese fried rice dish that is typically fried, and can be cooked by stir frying it in a wok.[3][1] Rice is used as a primary ingredient, and myriad additional ingredients can be used, such as vegetables, onion, garlic, edible mushrooms such as shiitake, tofu, pork, pork belly, seafoods such as crab meat, roe, salmon, shrimp and octopus, scrambled egg, ground beef and chicken broth, among others.[1][4][5][6][7][8] Pre-cooked rice is typically used, and leftover rice is sometimes used.[1][2] Oils such as canola oil, sesame oil and sunflower oil are used to fry the dish.[1][7] The dish can be seasoned with soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, salt, pepper and katsuobushi, a dried and flaked tuna product.[7][8] Shiso, an Asian culinary herb, may also be used to flavor chahan.[9] Nori, a dried edible seaweed product, can be used as a garnish.[9]

The use of a hot wok for frying and cooking chahan quickly can prevent the rice from sticking to the pan, and using warm rice also prevents pan sticking.[2] The use of dried cooked rice, which can be accomplished by refrigerating it, is also conducive toward enhancing the cooking process.[1][9]

Variations[edit]

Takana chahan is prepared with takanazuke (pickled takana) as a primary ingredient, and so popular in Japan indeed.

In popular culture[edit]

  • In Tsuihousha Shokudou e Youkoso! Chahan is the signature dish and favourite food of the protagonist Dennis Black due to his childhood when his adoptive mother and mentor Jeanne Black cooked chahan for him when he was an homeless orphan suffering from hunger and poverty. He love chahan so much that he was called the Legendary Chahan when he became a famous adventurer. Dennis also made chahan for his protégé Atorie after he bought her from slavery.
  • In One Piece anime, Sanji while in Water 7 ate chahan made by an old chef who flavoured it with special sea salt harvested from Aqua Laguna.
  • In Isekai Shokudo, The Nekoya owner once made chahan as a staff meal for himself and Aletta

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Samuels, D.; Robbins, H. (2013). My Japanese Table: A Lifetime of Cooking with Friends and Family. Tuttle Publishing. p. pt272–273. ISBN 978-1-4629-0638-3.
  2. ^ a b c Ono, T.; Salat, H. (2013). Japanese Soul Cooking: Ramen, Tonkatsu, Tempura, and More from the Streets and Kitchens of Tokyo and Beyond. Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony. pp. 397–398. ISBN 978-1-60774-353-8.
  3. ^ Sakamoto, T.; Ltd, M.C.I.P. (2013). Cook Japanese with Tamako: Hearty Meals for the Whole Family. Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited. pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-981-4516-87-7.
  4. ^ Hachisu, N.S.; Miura, K. (2012). Japanese Farm Food. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 152. ISBN 978-1-4494-1829-8.
  5. ^ Stallings, D.; Butler, S.E. (2011). Fodor's Japan. Fodor's Japan. Fodor's. p. 834. ISBN 978-0-307-48049-1.
  6. ^ "IN PHOTOS: Niu by Vikings debuts 9 new dishes for a limited time". Rappler. October 17, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "Receita de tako chahan: arroz frito com polvo e cogumelo shitake". Mundo-Nipo (in Portuguese). September 14, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Receita de ninniku chahan: arroz frito com alho, shissô e katsuobushi". Mundo-Nipo (in Portuguese). July 15, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c "Garlic Fried Rice (Chahan)". The Washington Post. April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.

External links[edit]

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