🍲 Donko Jiru (brown hakeling soup)

"Donko" is another name for the brown hakeling, a fish that is in season from fall to winter. It is mainly landed in Ishinomaki and Kesennuma ports in Miyagi Prefecture, and its catch has been decreasing year by year. The fish has a large mouth and a swollen belly that becomes narrower towards the tail. According to local beliefs, it is a lucky fish that helps people save money, as it is hard to get a lot in through the big mouth and out through the small buttocks. In the Kesennuma area, it is a custom to hang "donko" on the altar on "Ebisukou day" to pray for a big catch and prosperous business, and to eat them in soup. The flesh of "donko" becomes firmer in winter, and the liver becomes more fatty, making it even more delicious. The meat and bones are tender, and its white flesh and skin have no peculiarities, giving it an elegant flavor similar to cod. The liver tends to be preferred over the meat, and in the Sanriku region, it has long been eaten as "nameko", grilled whole, deep-fried, or in a nabe (hot pot), in a soup, and the liver gives a rich flavor to any dish. "Donko jiru" is a winter delicacy that uses plenty of donko, which goes well with miso. It is a local dish that warms the body from the inside out and is often eaten mainly in coastal areas. It is often prepared with vegetables such as daikon radish, carrots, and tofu.