Natto

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone here eat natto?
If so, how and when and what do you eat with it?
Did you like it right off or did it take you a while to like it?

I've tried it, but OMG, it stinks sooo bad.
I would like to learn to like it, but don't know the best way to go about
it.
Dee Dee

You're brave. Just the mere word makes my eyes water and brings on a gag
reflex. :~) Truth be told, you eat it as is; at least that's how I've seen
it served in Japanese restaurants.

kili

Kili replied to Dee:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Does anyone here eat natto?
If so, how and when and what do you eat with it?
Did you like it right off or did it take you a while to like it?

<snip>

Quoted message said:

You're brave. Just the mere word makes my eyes water and brings on a gag
reflex. :~) Truth be told, you eat it as is; at least that's how I've
seen it served in Japanese restaurants.

If you get it in a Japanese restaurant it'll be plain, as you say. But if
you bring some home with you, you can get more creative with it.

So ask yourself: where would a rotting-cheesy-bean flavor fit in well? And
texture is important also; let's not forget the inviting mucilaginous goo
which surrounds each bean.

Hmmm.... sticky-slimy-cheesy-fermented... How about putting it into gumbo or
chili? How about pairing it with a REALLY strong-flavored fish like
mackerel or bluefish, e.g., make fish cakes using bluefish and natto? (Hey,
deep-frying can cover up a host of culinary sins.) Really, though, unless I
had a VERY compelling reason for consuming natto, I wouldn't want it within
fifty feet of me.

Hey Kili, you're in Florida; did you ever eat the berries that grow on
palmettos? They were popular among the Seminoles, but less so among the
Europeans who settled Florida because they have a bad-cheese flavor --
somewhat like natto!

Bob

"Bob Terwilliger" <virtualgoth@die_spammer.biz> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Kili replied to Dee:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Does anyone here eat natto?
If so, how and when and what do you eat with it?
Did you like it right off or did it take you a while to like it?

<snip>

Quoted message said:

You're brave. Just the mere word makes my eyes water and brings on a

gag

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

reflex. :~) Truth be told, you eat it as is; at least that's how I've
seen it served in Japanese restaurants.

If you get it in a Japanese restaurant it'll be plain, as you say. But if
you bring some home with you, you can get more creative with it.

So ask yourself: where would a rotting-cheesy-bean flavor fit in well? And
texture is important also; let's not forget the inviting mucilaginous goo
which surrounds each bean.

Hmmm.... sticky-slimy-cheesy-fermented... How about putting it into gumbo

or

Quoted message said:

chili? How about pairing it with a REALLY strong-flavored fish like
mackerel or bluefish, e.g., make fish cakes using bluefish and natto?

(Hey,

Quoted message said:

deep-frying can cover up a host of culinary sins.) Really, though, unless

I

Quoted message said:

had a VERY compelling reason for consuming natto, I wouldn't want it

within

Quoted message said:

fifty feet of me.

Hey Kili, you're in Florida; did you ever eat the berries that grow on
palmettos? They were popular among the Seminoles, but less so among the
Europeans who settled Florida because they have a bad-cheese flavor --
somewhat like natto!

Bob

I don't think I've ever seen berries on palmettos. (I'm not sure what a
Palmetto looks like, other than I know it's a palm tree.) BUT, if it smells
or tastes like natto, you can be sure I'll steer WAY clear!

kili

Kili said:

I don't think I've ever seen berries on palmettos. (I'm not sure what a
Palmetto looks like, other than I know it's a palm tree.) BUT, if it
smells or tastes like natto, you can be sure I'll steer WAY clear!

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/palms/palmetto.jpg
http://www.floridata.com/ref/s/images/sere_re5.jpg

I'm sure you've seen them. They're all over Florida. Regarding their taste,
I quote from www.plantapalm.com/palmbeach/pnctimes/dec98/nuisance.htm: "A
group of Quakers shipwrecked and held by the Indians in the late 1600s said
the berries tasted like 'rotten cheese steeped in tobacco juice.'"

Yum! :-)

Bob

kilikini said:

I don't think I've ever seen berries on palmettos. (I'm not sure what a
Palmetto looks like, other than I know it's a palm tree.) BUT, if it smells
or tastes like natto, you can be sure I'll steer WAY clear!

When I think of palmetto, I think of big, flying cockroaches.
Palmetto is the official State Tree of South Carolina, but the
whole time I lived there I don't think I ever seen it either.

Just the roaches. I think the palmetto bugs were the Official
State Bird of South Carolina.

-sw

Really, though, unless

Quoted message said:

I

Quoted message said:

had a VERY compelling reason for consuming natto, I wouldn't want it

within

Quoted message said:

fifty feet of me.

I agree, I think one should have a compelling reason.

I should have looked further for how to eat it; DH found a recipe page and
more

http://www.gaia21.net/natto/recipe.htm

from other links:
from what I understand, it is different than just misu or tofu.

"However, bacillus natto produces various enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and
other nutrients unique to natto during its natto fermentation. It is these
unique elements that give natto its distinctive health and medical benefits.
Notably nattokinase and pyrazine prevent or resolve blood clot. They prevent
heart attacks and strokes that are the leading cause of death after cancer
in North America.

Natto is fermented soybeans that is a traditional Japanese staple for more
than 1,000 years. Recently its medical benefits are widely recognized in
Japan resulting in its increased popularity. Some of its beneficial effects
are prevention of heart attacks, strokes, cancer, osteoporosis, obesity and
intestinal disease caused by pathogens. Some of the effects are attributed
to its soybean origin.

Natto prevents heart attacks, strokes and osteoporosis, as well as food
poisoning and intestinal disorders. There are also reports that it is
effective against cancer. They also say it prevents obesity. It is the most
complete nutritious food, notably providing abundant Vitamin B complex which
tend to be lacking in vegetarian diet."

Dee Dee

Dee Randall said:

Really, though, unless

Quoted message said:

I

Quoted message said:

had a VERY compelling reason for consuming natto, I wouldn't want it

within

Quoted message said:

fifty feet of me.

I agree, I think one should have a compelling reason.

I should have looked further for how to eat it; DH found a recipe page and
more

http://www.gaia21.net/natto/recipe.htm

from other links:
from what I understand, it is different than just misu or tofu.

"However, bacillus natto produces various enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and
other nutrients unique to natto during its natto fermentation. It is these
unique elements that give natto its distinctive health and medical benefits.
Notably nattokinase and pyrazine prevent or resolve blood clot. They prevent
heart attacks and strokes that are the leading cause of death after cancer
in North America.

Natto is fermented soybeans that is a traditional Japanese staple for more
than 1,000 years. Recently its medical benefits are widely recognized in
Japan resulting in its increased popularity. Some of its beneficial effects
are prevention of heart attacks, strokes, cancer, osteoporosis, obesity and
intestinal disease caused by pathogens. Some of the effects are attributed
to its soybean origin.

Natto prevents heart attacks, strokes and osteoporosis, as well as food
poisoning and intestinal disorders. There are also reports that it is
effective against cancer. They also say it prevents obesity. It is the most
complete nutritious food, notably providing abundant Vitamin B complex which
tend to be lacking in vegetarian diet."

I've never had it. Everyone I know who has tried it, hated it.

There was an episode of Japanese Iron Chef where it was the main
ingredient. You could look that up for recipe suggestions. If those
guys can't make it edible, no one can.

If memory serves me....one of the guest judges was not able to finish,
however. You gotta really really want to eat this stuff.

Good luck! You can have all of my share.
Susan B.

Dee Randall said:

I agree, I think one should have a compelling reason.
I should have looked further for how to eat it; DH found a recipe page and
more

This is one of those ingredients which somewhat transform themselves
when added and cooked in reasonably small quantities to other foods.
It's like smelling a bottle of fish sauce, then being unable to find
that taste in a finished dish that uses it. That said, I don't like
natto nearly as well as Chinese-style fermented bean curd. AKA
"preserved bean curd" and "hot preserved bean curd" and "chile bean
curd." The heat/spiciness makes a big difference.

Stirfry fresh sliced green beans in hot oil for a minute, add a little
water and cover for 2 to 3 minutes. Uncover, stir in a small amount of
ground pork, a bit of minced garlic, and a good dollop of chile bean
curd, cook till pork is done, adding a little water if necessary.
You're making a sauce for the beans, not a meat and veggie dish. Beans
should be tender but still with a little crispiness. Quite delicious,
and you'd never be able to identify the ingredients.

Quoted message said:

[snip]
Notably nattokinase and pyrazine prevent or resolve blood clot. They prevent
heart attacks and strokes that are the leading cause of death after cancer
in North America. [snip repetition of health claims]

There is nothing in all that description that half an aspirin won't do
better. In my absolutely-without-medical-documentation opinion.
-aem

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
: Does anyone here eat natto?
: If so, how and when and what do you eat with it?
: Did you like it right off or did it take you a while to like it?
:
: I've tried it, but OMG, it stinks sooo bad.
: I would like to learn to like it, but don't know the best way to go about
: it.
: Dee Dee

That's the ONLY Japanese food I have never been able to eat! I think the
Japanese only eat it because they keep repeating the Mantra "This is good for you,
this is good for you". And one hell of a lot of Japanese don't eat it either!

They often mix prepared English yellow mustard with it.

Natto + Mustard for breakfast! I may start gagging again!

Frenchy

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone here eat natto?
If so, how and when and what do you eat with it?
Did you like it right off or did it take you a while to like it?

I've tried it, but OMG, it stinks sooo bad.
I would like to learn to like it, but don't know the best way to go about
it.
Dee Dee

I cannot eat anything that the Japanese won't eat. And they pretty much
will eat anything. They have very, very few foods they don't like and natto
is probably tops on their list.

Paul

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Does anyone here eat natto?
If so, how and when and what do you eat with it?
Did you like it right off or did it take you a while to like it?

I've tried it, but OMG, it stinks sooo bad.
I would like to learn to like it, but don't know the best way to go
about it.
Dee Dee

I had a dish at a Japanese restaurant that iirc was inch-cubes of raw tuna
with natto, grated yam and shredded nori. It was good 🙂 Hard to eat with
chopsticks, though, given the slimy textures of both natto and yam. But
all the elements went together very well.

K

Dee Randall said:

Does anyone here eat natto?
If so, how and when and what do you eat with it?
Did you like it right off or did it take you a while to like it?

I've tried it, but OMG, it stinks sooo bad.
I would like to learn to like it, but don't know the best way to go about
it.
Dee Dee

Who hasn't read "Steve, Don't Eat That" when he does Natto? I almost
peed in my panties laughing so hard...
For the uninformed, scroll down to Vol 6:
http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/cat_steve_dont_eat_it.php

"Amarantha" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Does anyone here eat natto?
If so, how and when and what do you eat with it?
Did you like it right off or did it take you a while to like it?

I've tried it, but OMG, it stinks sooo bad.
I would like to learn to like it, but don't know the best way to go
about it.
Dee Dee

I had a dish at a Japanese restaurant that iirc was inch-cubes of raw tuna
with natto, grated yam and shredded nori. It was good 🙂 Hard to eat with
chopsticks, though, given the slimy textures of both natto and yam. But
all the elements went together very well.

K

You didn't make that up, did you? :-)))
Or did you get the idea from Iron Chef -- just kidding!
Thanks,
Dee Dee

"Goomba38" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dee Randall said:

Does anyone here eat natto?
If so, how and when and what do you eat with it?
Did you like it right off or did it take you a while to like it?

I've tried it, but OMG, it stinks sooo bad.
I would like to learn to like it, but don't know the best way to go about
it.
Dee Dee

Who hasn't read "Steve, Don't Eat That" when he does Natto? I almost peed
in my panties laughing so hard...
For the uninformed, scroll down to Vol 6:
http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/cat_steve_dont_eat_it.php

Uninformed here --
Thanks for the big laughs.
There are plenty of runner-ups to natto on this page. Cuitlacoche is one of
them.

After seeing Steve's good picture of natto, I don't think I can go back to
trying it one more time.
I tried it in HI when I was taking classes at a Japanese shrine and the
ladies would bring goodies for after the class, and then decided to buy some
for at home and try it.

This picture that Steve shows of the strings when you pick it up is soooo
true.
I think I'm going to have to back out of natto -- and die sooner.
Dee Dee

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

"Amarantha" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I had a dish at a Japanese restaurant that iirc was inch-cubes of raw
tuna with natto, grated yam and shredded nori. It was good 🙂 Hard
to eat with chopsticks, though, given the slimy textures of both
natto and yam. But all the elements went together very well.

K

You didn't make that up, did you? :-)))
Or did you get the idea from Iron Chef -- just kidding!
Thanks,
Dee Dee

hehe
Scout's honour 🙂 But I forgot to mention that when I ordered it, the
waitress gave me a dubious look and asked if I knew what natto was. I
assured her that I'd had it before.

K

"Amarantha" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

"Amarantha" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I had a dish at a Japanese restaurant that iirc was inch-cubes of raw
tuna with natto, grated yam and shredded nori. It was good 🙂 Hard
to eat with chopsticks, though, given the slimy textures of both
natto and yam. But all the elements went together very well.

K

You didn't make that up, did you? :-)))
Or did you get the idea from Iron Chef -- just kidding!
Thanks,
Dee Dee

hehe
Scout's honour 🙂 But I forgot to mention that when I ordered it, the
waitress gave me a dubious look and asked if I knew what natto was. I
assured her that I'd had it before.

K

I know the look - they give it to me at Walmart when they think I'm too ...
whatever ... to understand what I'm buying.
And they also give the look to me when I order anything hot in an Asian
restaurant; guess they've got to make sure.

But I can really understand the dubious look about natto.
Yes, I've changed my mind about trying natto; BECAUSE
geez, I got so excited about seeing that Costco had some special cheese that
I like and have had twice before and it was not that rotten smell -- I
hesitate to take it back because it is foodstuffs and perishable and cheese
is one of those items that is judged by others as to how stinky it really
should be vs. whether it is rotten. I'll decide tomorrow - $19.80 -- just a
little too much to throw to the rats.

Where did you learn to like natto? Did you say?
Dee Dee

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Where did you learn to like natto? Did you say?
Dee Dee

When I was studying Japanese, one of my teachers brought some in for
everyone to try. She's Japanese and doesn't like it, but she wanted to
introduce us to some of the culture as well as the language.

So I only had a small taste, but didn't mind it. When I ordered it in the
restaurant I was taking a slight risk, but I thought it'd be OK, and I
ended up really enjoying it 🙂

K