🍱 Same no Sukume

The meaning of "sukume" is ‘to wrap with vinegar'. It is pronounced "sugume" in Tsugaru region. It is known by the research of ruins in Joumon Era (AC 14,000 and 300 BC) that people ate shark in Tsugaru region, and shark is inseparable with the local food culture. Especially, Pacific spiny dogfish dominates the 90% caught of shark in the prefecture, and you can still find its head and slices at fish stores. "Same no Sukume" is a dish made from flaked boiled shark head marinated with daikon radish or cabbage and miso vinegarette, and it is said that it was invented not to waste shark at the time when food was precious. It is also an essential New Year dish, and grated daikon radish is mixed in some areas. Shark was eaten in various dishes like "Izushi" (=kind of sushi), "sashimi"(=sliced raw fish), soup, "namasu" (=vinegar salad), or simmered dish beside "sukume".