Fresh Pacific Saury (Sanma) 新鮮秋刀魚

サンマ

Sanma or Pacific Saury is one of the most well-known seasonal fish representing autumn in Japanese cuisine. It’s usually salted and grilled whole and served with grated daikon and soy sauce to intensify the flavor of the fish.  The kanji characters used in the Japanese names of the Sanma (秋刀魚) mean “autumn sword fish” in reference to sanma season and its body shape resembling a knife or a sword.

日本秋刀魚較其他產地乾淨及肉身物甜美，而且營養豐富，秋刀魚油的omega-3不飽和脂肪酸豐富，又含有EPA與DHA，可以降低人體的壞膽固醇及三酸甘油脂，預防動脈硬化和血栓，也有助於小孩腦部發育，對老人延遲老化痴呆也很有幫助。製作壽司用的秋刀魚肉要先用鹽和醋（有時用檸檬汁）進行醃製後方可使用。最常見的烹製方式是將整條魚鹽烤，搭配白飯、味噌湯、蘿蔔泥一同食用。