🍲 Dojyou-ni (stewed loach)

In Saitama Prefecture, which has rivers such as the Arakawa and Tone Rivers originating in the Chichibu Mountains, people have enjoyed the rich bounty of the rivers. Eels, Ayu (sweetfish), catfish, carp, and other river fish were eaten as Sashimi (raw), grilled, or boiled. Rice paddy Loach are easy to catch, and when the water temperature rises, they gather in the corners of the rice paddies and can be scooped out by hand. At the end of September, when the rice paddies are drained, Loaches, are caught by setting up a bamboo whisk at the mouth of the waterway. The caught Loaches, are either fried with vegetables, or boiled whole. The thin ones were boiled in Miso soup with Vegetables, while fat ones were stewed in Loach stew.