Living in Malaysia, I have always realised that most Malaysians are obsessed with seafood, especially oysters. While there are plenty of raw oysters in the market, or oyster bars trending up all over the corner in our country, Japanese too, love oysters and they incorporate this amazing gooey seafood in their cuisine.
During the fall and winter in Japan, it can be really cold and dry. Therefore, fried food is extremely common and favoured by most Japanese during these seasons. Eating fried food during winter can be warming and comforting. Japanese fried oyster, also known as Kaki Furai (Kaki Fry), is one of the most popular snacks in Japan during the cold seasons.
Sometimes it is paired with tartar sauce, which is the typical way of eating it, occasionally Japanese will use their original miso or soy sauce gravy. Either way, the pairing is heavenly and you will crave for more!
Two Ways Of Preparation
Typically, Kaki Furai is often deep-fried, giving the outer batter layer its crunchiness. Dipping it into the sour tartar mayo sauce, the sourness goes well with the juiciness of the oyster with the sour taste will instantly explode in your mouth, creating a heavenly texture. Other than that, you may go for baked oyster as well. This way, it not only keeps the kitchen area cleaner and easier to clean up, but it is also a healthier option as well.
The texture would be slightly different, but baked oyster is equally as delicious as deep-fried ones. If you still want to get the deep-fried crunchiness outer layer batter, you may opt to stir fry the panko crumbs before coating it on your fresh oysters. This way, even after baking it, you would still get the golden brown appearance on the outer layer and inside, a hot juicy fresh oyster. This combination is outright wonderful.
The Sauce
Aside from adding some mayonnaise and lime juice to the tartar sauce, you can also go for miso-based sauce or soy sauce with some sesame seeds. Sometimes, the Japanese will get creative with their dipping sauces, so dijon mustard can be an option too if you are feeling adventurous.
You may go for any dipping sauce you like. Spicy with paprika and cumin, wasabi, sweet sauce, sesame dressings and other kinds of dipping sauce of your preference. I prefer the typical mirin soy sauce. The tanginess of the mirin and the juiciness of the oyster, this combination has always been my favourite. You may test and try to get which one you like the most.
Where To Find Japanese Fried Oysters?
You may do this on your own from the comfort of your home, be it deep-fried or oven-baked, either way, you can do it your way. If you feel like going out, check out these Japanese restaurants around your area that might satisfy your cravings!
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