Katsuobushi and bonito
Katsuobushi is one of the ingredients that helps define the distinctive umami flavor of Japanese cuisine. It is made from bonito (katsuo), which is heated, smoked, and carefully dried into a highly concentrated product. The fish is then shaved into paper-thin flakes. Together with kombu, katsuobushi forms the classic foundation for many types of dashi. The combination is so powerful because the various natural umami components in kombu and katsuobushi enhance each other.
But katsuobushi is much more than just an ingredient for broth. The thin, smoky, and savory bonito flakes are also used directly as a topping on okonomiyaki, takoyaki, tofu, vegetables, noodles, and rice dishes.
At Dutch Wasabi, you’ll find both ready-to-use shaved katsuobushi and whole dried and smoked bonito for the most traditional experience. Use katsuobushi to make dashi, but also try the flakes as a topping on roasted vegetables, eggs, potatoes, or other dishes.