Wonderful Japanese Treats Trivia Quiz

Answer: Furikake

Furikake literally means 'sprinkle shake', and rightly so. Furikake mixes are essentially flavored powders that are sprinkled over rice, soup and other Japanese dishes. They come in a variety flavors, such as bonito, shrimp, and wasabi. Really creative chefs can create their own varieties of furikake!

Answer: Dumplings

The term 'jiaozi', from Mandarin Chinese, means 'boiled one', referring to the most common method of preparation for these dumplings, or potstickers, as they are called in the West. Gyoza can also be deep-fried...they are tasty regardless of the preparation method. Typical ingredients in gyoza include pork, cabbage, ginger, garlic, etc. Use chopsticks with your gyoza...if you dare!

Answer: Bon miso

Miso, which is essentially fermented soybean paste, comes in white (shiro miso), red (aka miso) and blended (awase miso) varieties. These Japanese originally acquired the technique of soybean fermentation via Korea (and China) during the 7th century. Miso is a rather healthy food, said to protect against heart disease and cancer.

It's great with tofu (which is also an extraordinarily healthy food, derived, as it is, from soybeans as well!)

Answer: Dashi

Like Furikake, there are a variety of different dashi flavors such as kelp, bonito fish, and shiitake mushroom. Dashi is employed to form the base of miso soup, among its many other uses.

Answer: Soy sauce

Shôyu is simply the Japanese term for this incredibly important ingredient. The term is derived from the Chinese, where it is called 'jiang you' in Mandarin and 'see yau' in Cantonese. As the name suggests, soy sauce is yet another important Japanese staple food that is derived from the versatile soy bean!

Answer: Portuguese

Though etymologists are not absolutely certain, it is likely that the word 'tempura' came from the Portuguese 'tempêro', which means 'seasoning'. Common tempura items include: shrimp, squid, mushrooms, peppers and eggplant. In actuality, there is an extraordinary variety of different foods that can get the tempura treatment!

Answer: True

Oshinko can be considered a vegetarian type dish, though recipes may vary. It refers to a variety of vegetables that are pickled in vinegar. Most commonly, cabbage, eggplant, and daikon radish are used. This is very similar in style to Korean kimchee, though you will not find it so spicy!

Answer: Tabi

'Maguro' is the Japanese term for tuna, while 'toro' refers specifically to the marbled underbelly of that same fish. 'Uni' is the term for sea urchin roe, a sushi item that certainly might be considered an 'acquired' taste. I certainly hope you don't find yourself chewing on a 'tabi' while in a sushi restaurant...it's the term for a special kind of Japanese sock!

Answer: False

I hope you saw through my ruse! Agedofu refers to tofu cubes that are fried golden brown and dipped in a sauce. Yakko-tofu is a cold tofu dish, wherein the tofu is served with ginger, green onions, bonito flakes and soy sauce. Both are rather delicious and quite healthy. Are we noticing a soy trend in this quiz?

Answer: True

Once again, the ubiquitous soybean strikes again! 'Natto' is a kind of fermented soybean recipe that some people compare to cheese in flavor. An acquired taste, it is supposedly incredibly healthful. 'Edamame', another interesting side dish, is simply Japanese soybean pods that are boiled, salted and served either hot or cold. Don't eat the pods, however, just work the beans from them and discard the outer shell! I hope you enjoyed this quiz and will explore some of my other quizzes on food (and perhaps different topics as well!)