Satsuma-Age

This is deep-fried kamaboko and is normally shaped into an oval disc measuring about 7.5 × 5cm/3 × 2in. Pour boiling water over the paste to reduce the oil before use. It can be eaten as it is with shoyu, or lightly grilled. It is also used for simmering with vegetables, in soups, hotpots, and in noodle dishes. There are many sizes and colours of deep-fried kamaboko and even stuffed and rolled versions as well. Ika-maki is a fried kamaboko roll with squid inside and gobo-maki is stuffed with burdock. Both of these together with ordinary satsuma-age are popular ingredients for oden (fish paste hotpot), and are available, mostly frozen, at Japanese and Asian supermarkets.