“Basashi” is a local dish in Kumamoto, where Ai Hosokawa lives. Even though we say "horse sashimi" in one word, the taste varies depending on the cut, such as marbled meat such as loin, lean meat such as thigh meat, liver sashimi, tongue sashimi, etc. There are also names unique to horse meat, such as kone. Horse meat is attracting attention as a health food because it is low in fat, low in calories, high in protein, and rich in minerals such as iron, calcium, and zinc. Many people think that horsemeat is something you can eat at a restaurant, but it's also a luxury to order horsemeat and enjoy ``horse sashimi'' at home.

Hosokawa, who grew up in Tokyo, says he has had more opportunities to eat horse meat since living in Kumamoto. ``In Kumamoto, raw horsemeat is often sliced ​​thinly and eaten with soy sauce along with thinly sliced ​​onions, grated ginger, and garlic. I thought it would go well with strawberry, which is a similar color, so I tried pairing it with it.This is the standard way to have horse sashimi at my house,'' says Hosokawa.

He also said that because the recipe does not require any special preparation, it is important to choose good ingredients and seasonings. And one of the key points of this taste is the roasted paprika. The bitterness and sweetness of papria brings out the flavor of horse meat.

An exquisite balance of texture, color, and seasoning that brings out the best in the ingredients.

The horsemeat we will be introducing this time comes from Fujichiku, a company that produces, processes, and sells horses and Kuroge Wagyu beef (Fujisai beef) in Kumamoto Prefecture. The horse meat sold here comes from horses selected from carefully selected farms in Hokkaido and Canada, and raised at Kikuyo Farm in Kumamoto.
The trick is to slice the frozen block of meat you receive from Fujichiku as thinly as possible while it's partially thawed. We want you to fully enjoy the deliciousness of strawberries that are in season, as well as fresh horse meat.

(Titles omitted)

Horse carpaccio (for 4 people)

Horse sashimi (lean) 100g
2 red bell peppers
A few fresh or red onions
olive oil
coarse salt
Pepper

Place the red bell peppers on a wire rack and roast until they turn black.
Once cooled, remove the stem, skin, and seeds and soak in the grilling liquid.
Finely chop the fresh onions and soak in water.
Drain thoroughly and toss well with olive oil and red wine vinegar.
Soak the horse sashimi wrapped in ice water to partially defrost it, then cut into very thin slices.
Arrange the roasted paprika on a plate, sprinkle with fresh onions, and layer the horse meat.
Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with coarse salt, and ground black pepper.
Serve with strawberry salad.

strawberry salad

Strawberry
olive oil
red wine vinegar
coarse salt

Peel the strawberries and cut them into bite-sized pieces if they are large.
Toss with olive oil and red wine vinegar, place in a bowl, and sprinkle with coarse salt.

This time's order

horsemeat
Fujichiku

You can select parts and quantities at the online shop.
Product: Fuji horse sashimi lean meat 100g (1-XNUMX servings) with sauce and ginger
Price: 1,814 yen (shipping not included)
How to purchase: Can be purchased at the online shop.

Ai Hosokawa

Cook. He hosts cooking classes and cooking parties in taishoji, Kumamoto. "Toast" (BON Publishing), "Standard Cooking Collection" (Anonyma Studio), "Travel and Cooking" (CCC Media House), and "Taishoji Cookbook 1.2" (Shobunsha) are currently on sale.

Photography by Ai Hosokawa