🍲 Uchimame to Kiri-kombu no Nimono (=The simmered kidney beans and kombu)

"Uchimame to Kiri-kombu no Nimono (=The simmered kidney beans and kombu)" is a local dish that skillfully utilizes long-lasting ingredients such as mashed beans and sliced kombu. Fukushima experiences heavy snowfall during winter, making it challenging to harvest fresh vegetables. Therefore, taking advantage of the cold and dry climate, people in Fukushima often make long-lasting foods such as dried vegetables. For example, "uchimame" refers to soybeans that are crushed after harvesting when they are still green, and then dried. They were often consumed as a valuable source of protein during the winter. The simmered dish combining uchimame and kirikombu has become a well-established side dish that is enjoyed deliciously even during the winter season.