Morioka Jajamen facts for kids
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| Place of origin |  Japan |
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| Region or state | Morioka, Iwate Prefecture |
| Created by | Takashina Kanshou |
| Variations | Zhajiangmian |
Morioka Jajamen (Japanese: 盛岡じゃじゃ麺) is a special noodle dish from Morioka, a city in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the "Three Great Noodles of Morioka." The other two are Morioka Reimen and Wanko soba. This tasty dish was inspired by a Chinese noodle dish called Zhajiangmian.
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How Morioka Jajamen Started
Before World War II, a person named Takashina Kanshou visited a place called Manchukuo. This area is now part of Northeast China. While he was there, he tried a dish called Zhajiangmian.
In 1945, Takashina Kanshou returned to his hometown of Morioka. He brought the idea for the noodle dish with him. He worked hard to recreate the special miso paste. He changed it many times to make it perfect. He also listened to what his customers thought. This helped him create a flavor that people in Morioka loved. Over time, it became its own unique dish. Now, Morioka Jajamen is a famous food in Morioka. Many restaurants and pubs (called izakayas) serve it.
What's in Morioka Jajamen?
Morioka Jajamen uses thin udon noodles. It comes with a scoop of special meat miso paste. This paste is made from minced pork, onions, and dried shiitake mushrooms. It also includes ingredients like sake, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil.
The dish is topped with fresh cucumber and spring onions. You can also add ginger. After you mix everything, you can add more flavor. Many people like to add vinegar, chili oil, or extra garlic. You can make it taste just how you like it!
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Before Mixing
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After Mixing
Try Chitantan! A Special Way to Finish Your Meal
When you are almost finished eating your Morioka Jajamen, you can try something special. It's called Chitantan (Japanese: チータンタン). With just a little sauce and a few noodles left in your bowl, you crack a raw egg into it. Then, boiling water is poured in. This cooks the egg and mixes it with the leftover sauce. You can add more meat miso or other flavors if you want.
The name Chitantan comes from a Chinese phrase. It means "chicken egg soup." In Japanese, the pronunciation changed a bit. The name is written in katakana. This is a Japanese writing style often used for words from other languages.
Morioka Jajamen's Chinese Inspiration: Zhajiangmian
Zhajiangmian (traditional Chinese: 炸醬麵; simplified Chinese: 炸酱面; pinyin: zhájiàngmiàn; "fried sauce noodles") is the Chinese dish that inspired Morioka Jajamen. But they have some big differences. Morioka Jajamen is usually made in a very similar way everywhere. Zhajiangmian, however, has many different versions.
The type of noodles used can change depending on the region in China. Also, the main sauce is different. Morioka Jajamen uses a Japanese miso base. Zhajiangmian often uses a sweet bean sauce called Tianmian sauce.
There is also a unique version of Zhajiangmian in Korea. It is called Jajangmyeon (자장면).
