Sekihan
Ԕ(lit. red rice)
Gulutinous pinkish rice
"Sekihan" is made by steaming sticky rice called "Mochigome "together
with boiled red beans (azuki ) which turn the rice pinkish color.
The rice is first soaked overnight in the liquid from the boiled red beans.
When you steam the rice, the liquid is also used.
Today, we can buy it at Japanese sweets shop (Wagashi-tenaَqX) or supermarkets.
In Japan, people has been considered that color of red (though sekihan
is not real red) is a lucky color
because it associates with the color of the sun.
So, "sekihan" is a special dish which served to cerebrate festivals,
weddings, birthday, longevity, passing of exam.,
new construction, graduation, entry of school, etc.
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Sprinkle Goma-shio (sesame-salt) or salt a little bit, it becomes tasting
slightly sweeter.
***
We sometimes put sekihan in "Jubako"(tiered lacquerd box) may
happiness pile up.
***
Steamed glutinous rice is generally called "Okowa/kowaii"
Added ingredient | Name |
Red beans | Sekihan, Okowa (Speaking "Okowa" it often means okowa with red beans) |
Mountain greens | Sansai-Okowa |
Chestnuts | Kuri-Okowa |
Mushrooms | Kinoko-Okowa |
eel | Unagi-Okowa |
Sea bream | Tai-Okowa/Tai-meshi The Japanese word for sea bream, tai, sounds similar to the word "mede-tai"(happy, festive, good luck, auspicious). The color of sea bream is also red, so it has been thought fish of felicity and a necessity for dishes for happy events. |
etc. | - |
Nothing | Shiramushi |