Tuesday, March 4, 2014

My First Natto Experience


Encouraged by Geri's positive natto-eating experience and further spurred by Aunty's article extolling its virtues, I went to Nijiya Market to buy me some natto. 

I couldn't find the exact one that Natto King recommended, nor the one that my cousin Gary said was his favorite (Shirakiku's Mito No Aji).  So, I picked this one . . .  because it was on sale and because while I was studying all the different natto in the freezer section of the store, a lady came and without hesitation grabbed it and put it in her basket.  Plus had the "Okame" lady on it, a Natto King recommendation.

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It contained the "tare" and "karashi" packets.  Good.  Good.
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I used the "side, side, slide" method to remove the plastic covering.  I caught a whiff.  Oh Gawd.  I held my breath while a did the "litoru mix".
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I put a small glob on some hot rice.
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I started chanting to myself.  Just do it.  Do it.  Don't pause.  Don't think.  Don't smell it.  Just do it.  Do it.  Do it.  Do it.  And then I did it. I shoved it into my mouth.
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And it wasn't too bad . . . taste-wise anyway.  But I thought it needed some reinforcement. So I added some of Mich's andasu and some cucumber kimchee. I mixed it all up and took a couple more bites.
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And that was it.  Two more bites. It was the sliminess that did me in.  I couldn't go on. I had to dump the rest.

Ack. Fail. But now I can say that I tried.

I think I'm gonna go look for the natto pills that Aunty recommended.  I hope they're small pills.  

26 comments:

Kalin's Mommy said...

Haha, Eeeewwww. At least you tried it. One step further than I will ever go.

Dd said...

You are VERY brave....much braver that I .... do you know that one of the specialty dishes at Angelo Pietros is their Natto Pasta !! Ewwwwww

Les said...

once again...bleh!!

Dd said...

BTW-that picture on Aunty's blog....yikes...super super sliimmmyyyy.....ewwww +++

Lorna said...

Urp. I have never tried natto, and after your attempt/experiment, I think I'm going to have to pass. My parents never ate natto, so that's probably why I have had no exposure to it.

Nippon Nin said...

Ha ha ha ha ha! You have an amazing ability to make people laugh.

Although natto is probably one of the healthy food available inexpensively, the unique texture and aroma(?) are challenging for some. Luckily, I love natto. Took a while but I converted my husband into natto lover.

lance said...

That's harsh. Mix in a raw egg and some of that bottle seaweed. Taste so much better over hot rice.

K and S said...

proud of you for trying!

Honolulu Aunty said...

Lol! You might have liked it better with nori and rice, allowing you to just swallow without seeing the slime. Kozo Sushi serves the rolls with wasabi and green onion...

Nattokinese is kinda expensive - in capsule form. I order it from HealthyHabitsweb.com because I like them - kinda a nonflashy company with some pretty good products, and some that are not as good. They seem honest to me.

I only take the capsules once in a while - when I get a headache or my pulse feels like it is racing - so my bottle lasts for a long time. So far, so good!

DNakamaru said...

I don't like natto either but I tried it because it's 'supposed to be' good for your heart.

I didn't smell it, just chewed it fast. wasn't that bad but wasn't good either.

but now i'm on blood thinners so can't eat natto - shucks huh?

jenny said...

I am proud of you for trying. This is too bad! I bought the ingredients to make natto pizza this week to post for you to see! I will still post it..:) But cucumber kimchee with natto looks awesome, I'm going to have to try it!

Anonymous said...

You gooey girl!

So funny...you didn't really stir um bc it can get way ooey gooey !

You know they have a Jpn tradition of natto, Yama IMO and okra ...slime fest:)

jalna said...

I wanted to like it so bad, Mich.

Natto Pasta at Angelo Pietros! Wonder if it's a popular dish. Some people recommend that you stir it up real good to get it real slimy. Ewww.

LOL, Les.

Guess what Lorna . . . my husband and my son and Aunty have, started eating it.

Wow Akemi, how did you convince your husband?

Aiyaiyai, Lance . . . no way I coulda handled the raw egg too! LOL!!

Thanks Kat!

I was wondering if it was expensive, Aunty. Shucks.

It's so good for you, Dean, that I really wanted to like it . . . but noooooo.

I'm curious about your pizza, Jenny!

Ewwwwww, Anon!!!!

Anonymous said...

Natto pasta is delicious...I make it a lot, but cooking it isn't as healthy as fresh nattos .

I converted a natto hater after she had my pasta. It's basically a garlic evo with bacon and topped with negi.

Susan said...

I can't even eat sunny side up eggs because of the slimy mucussy part and I don't eat a lot of cheeses...for e.g. Feta because of the smell, I read the smell of natto is like stinky cheese. Maybe my dad might eat it...he has some health issues that might help him : ) have you tried balut?

celia said...

My first experience was my last experience - the slime was hard to take. I definitely sympathize with you.

jalna said...

Whoa, Anon . . . you converted a natto hater?!! Impressive! Do you use a ton of bacon? LOL.

I agree Susan . . . sunny side up egg . . . ewwww . . . feta cheese . . . ewwww. Please tell me you don't eat balut.

At least we tried yah, Celia.

Susan said...

Lol. I thought I was the only one who didn't like feta cheese. No, no, balut for me!!

Anonymous said...

No wonder you can't eat natto...:) I am the opposite and love sunnyside ups covered in feta cheese!;)

Anonymous said...

The natto flavor isn't as strong when cooked......but adds an umami flavor to the pasta. Plus...no ooey gooey ;)

Mark Shelby said...

Jalna! You make me so hungry all Da Time....you stay Dangerous!.....lol
;)

jalna said...

Susan, I think some really good dishes come with feta cheese in it, but I gotta move um to the side. I'm glad you don't eat balut. LOL!!!

Ewwwww, Anon.

Anon, I'm still trying to figure out "umami". Never really understood what flavor it describes.

Anonymous said...

Umami is to describe a delicious flavor explosion :)

jalna said...

Ooooh Mark . . . let me know if you ever do get to try natto!

Delicious flavor explosion!! That's the best description I've heard yet, Anon!

Anonymous said...

Nattoliciuos!!!!!

Randism said...

like others have said, at least you tried; maybe there's a combination you need to find to make it okay? goodo rucku!