For the Love of Natto!

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 8 people | Log in to rate

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Natto Lovers Unite!

I've created this Lens as a safe haven for Natto Lovers around the world to share their Natto memoirs, recipes and reviews, and initiate the adventurous gourmet to the bittersweet delights of Natto!

Natto on Flickr 

Natto maki

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おれのダイエット食(1)

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おれのダイエット食(2)

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nato 001

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Natto sushi unraveled

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My Natto Story 

Natto is a traditional Japanese soybean product, an "acquired taste" I grew up with. From my earliest memories, I recall watching Natto spooned into the smallest white wire-handled takeout box at Modern Food Market in Little Tokyo Los Angeles, for dinner at my grandparents' house on the weekends. Now I watch the lone plate or two of Natto Sushi travel 'round and 'round the conveyor-belt sushi bar, but discreetly ask for a "fresh plate" (an oxymoron, no doubt) at the end of my meal. Even amongst my Japanese American friends, there seems to be a level of social comfort one needs in order to reveal this love affair with Natto. It wasn't until I shared my secret with guests at an annual Japanese New Year feast, that I discovered other Natto Lovers in my midst! (Photo courtesy of "eecue" on flickr.com, under a Creative Commons license.)

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Natto on YouTube 

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Natto on Rice 

Natto is traditionally eaten on top of hot rice, often with a bit of soy sauce, salt or purchased Natto Sauce.

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Natto Cuisine 

Chance encounters and natto rendevous

Savory natto stuffed pockets of aburaage (fried tofu, pictured right), at Tsukuneya Robata Grill

Buy natto at Marukai in Southern California or Marukai Hawaii on Oahu.

OMG! Tokkuri-Tei in Honolulu has the most awesome Ahi/Natto bowl on their lunch menu. A whole Natto meal, in a bowl... a big bowl!

 

Have a good source in your area or a restaurant to recommend? Please post it here, and we'll add it to the mix!

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  • Reply
    Shawnee Shawnee Jul 14, 2009 @ 9:59 pm
    Natto is my favorite snack. It is the answer to the question "if you could pick one food you could eat for the rest of your life what would it be." I am 100% American and it surprises everyone when they find out I like it... if they even know what it is.
    I am wondering if anyone knows of any Sushi places in NYC that serve natto either in sushi or plain over rice.
    Please let me know!
  • Reply
    Payne Payne Apr 16, 2009 @ 5:15 pm
    I love natto, I'm from Malaysia, I started having natto about 3 weeks ago, currently I even homebrewing my own natto :),
    I eat natto the general way by adding shoyu & mustard, natto toast, natto spaghetti and natto with steam rice. I could be trying to make natto curry rice, natto mayonaise or whateva ways.
  • Reply
    Hazel Hazel Dec 10, 2008 @ 8:19 pm
    I love Natto . I also was raised on this,and love it. My husband also loves Natto. Whenever we eat out at a Japanese restaurant we are always asked how we became accustomed to natto, I tell them that I ate it as a young girl.
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Natto Kitchen Aides 

Please add your recommendations, too!

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Grater - Porcelain

Grater - Porcelain

Porcelain grater for finely grating fruits, vegeta more...0 points

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Joyce Chen 12 by 3-1/2 Inch Asian Mandoline

Joyce Chen 12 by 3-1/2 Inch Asian Mandoline

For fast slicing and fine juliennes (and easy clea more...0 points

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Panasonic SR-G06FG 3.3-Cup Rice Cooker/Steamer

Panasonic SR-G06FG 3.3-Cup Rice Cooker/Steamer

Budget Basic: Panasonic - SRG06FG - Rice Cooker St more...0 points

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Zojirushi NS-LAC05 Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer, Stainless Steel

Zojirushi NS-LAC05 Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer, Stainless Steel

The "RollsRoyce" of Rice Cookers: The Mi more...0 points

Natto Stuff on eBay 

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Natto Poll 

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Amazon Spotlight 

The Fifth Taste: Cooking with Umami

The Fifth Taste: Cooking with Umami

by: Anna Kasabian, David Kasabian

Amazon Price: (as of 01/01/2010)Buy Now

Natto Lovers may enjoy this book.

American Public Media's The Splendid Table  

Listen to the broadcast

The Splendid Table, March 25: Umami
"If you've always suspected that taste goes beyond science's big four of sweet, sour, salt and bitter your instincts are right. This week we're looking at umami..."

Wait! Wait! Before you go, pin yourself on our Natto Lovers Map! 

Here's a map to stand up and be counted. Please also add shops or restaurants that offer Natto!
Natto Lovers Map
Where in the world are our Natto Loving friends?!?

Reader Feedback 

We'd love to hear from you! Post a shoutout for Natto here.

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  • Reply
    Lars Lars Jan 27, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
    I love Natto... tobad I just found one restaurant serving it in vienna, Austria.... Not like Socal where you can get it in every 2nd sushibar...
    If you know a place in Vienna austria.... please post or contact us through www.llohtec.com
    Thank you !!
  • Reply
    alohabc alohabc Jun 9, 2008 @ 3:40 am
    Whoa, BrianBlades! Pastrami & Natto?!? Now that's what I call hardcore!
  • Reply
    BrianBlades BrianBlades Jun 9, 2008 @ 2:49 am
    I love natto. I love it on hot rice of course but also as a sandwich. toasted bread, pastrami maynoise
  • Reply
    KonaGirl KonaGirl Apr 24, 2008 @ 3:14 pm
    I haven't had any Natto since I left home in Hawaii. Now I'm hungry for it. I'll have to find a Japanese restaurant around here that carries it.
    Big Island of Hawaii
  • Reply
    alohabc alohabc Sep 21, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
    Aloha Jimmie! I hoped to peak curiosity without scaring anyone off in their first reading! I've defined and described Natto and some of our favorite add-ins in the links under "Natto Whatevahs". Checkout the Special Offer link or Natto Mentaiko Spaghetti recipe for much more info on Natto! ~alohabc
  • Reply
    Jimmie Jimmie Sep 21, 2007 @ 9:45 am
    I've never heard of Natto. Interesting. I'd like to try it. Does it taste like tofu? Is it mushy? Firm?
    I don't quite understand what it is.
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