Saba no Tatsutaage is a classic Japanese snack made from mackerel marinated in soy sauce and ginger. Our version is ready to be crisply fried at home.
This snack is often included in bento boxes, but it is also regularly served as a main dish, with some rice and miso soup.
The name tatsutaage has a beautiful origin: the dish is named after the Tatsuta River in Nara, Japan. In autumn, the reddish-brown maple leaves fall into the river, giving the water a deep reddish-brown glow. When fish or chicken is marinated and then fried with a light, golden-brown crust, it reminds Japanese people of the same color. That is why this type of fried preparation was given the name tatsutaage: literally “fried in the style of Tatsuta.”
