Hikado is a hearty and flavorful stew that reflects Nagasaki’s rich history of cultural exchange. Inspired by Portuguese cuisine and adapted with local ingredients, this dish evolved over time to suit Japanese tastes. With its gentle sweetness and comforting texture, hikado remains a beloved part of Nagasaki’s food culture. Read on to discover how this unique dish came to be and why it continues to be enjoyed today!
What is Hikado?
“Hikado,” a local dish from Nagasaki Prefecture. It is a mild-tasting stew made by simmering diced fish, meat, and vegetables in broth and thickening it with grated sweet potato. The original hikado thickened with bread, but after bread became unavailable, people started thickening it with sweet potato.
Hikado History
The word “hikado” originates from the Portuguese word picado, meaning “to chop finely.” After Nagasaki opened its port, missionaries and traders from Portugal and Spain introduced stews made with beef and pork. Since meat was scarce, they began using locally caught fish and vegetables. Initially, hikado was thickened with bread, but when bread became hard to find due to the ban on Christianity, sweet potatoes replaced it. Nagasaki, known for its preference for sweeter seasonings due to the easy access to sugar, embraced the sweetness and thickness of sweet potatoes. This adaptation became popular and eventually established hikado as a local dish in Nagasaki.
FAQ
- What is Hikado?
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Hikado is a stew-like dish with diced ingredients, a local dish that has been passed down in Nagasaki since the early 1600s.
- Where does the name Hikado come from?
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It comes from the Portuguese word “picado,” which means “finely chopped.
- What are the main ingredients in Hikado?
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Fish (such as yellowtail), chicken, sweet potatoes, daikon radish, carrots, dried shiitake mushrooms, etc.
Hikado Recipe
| Ingredients for 3 persons | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Pork shoulder | 250g |
| Salad oil | 14g |
| Daikon radish | 45g |
| Carrots | 45g |
| Sweet potato | 60g |
| Dried shiitake mushrooms | 40g |
| Dashi stock | 1500g |
| Tuna | 50g |
| Sweet potato (grated) | 120g |
| Green onion | 5g |
| Light soy sauce | 10g |
| Salt | 4g |
How to make Hikado?
Begin by dicing the pork shoulder into small pieces suitable for grilling. Heat the salad oil in a pan and sauté the diced daikon radish, carrots, and sweet potato until they are slightly tender. Add the dried shiitake mushrooms to the pan and cook for another minute to release their flavor.
Next, pour the dashi stock into the pan with the vegetables and bring it to a boil. Add the sake, diced tuna, and grilled pork shoulder to the pan, letting everything cook together for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Add the grated sweet potato to the pot, stirring to thicken the soup. Season the mixture with light soy sauce and salt to taste. Once the soup has thickened and is well-seasoned, transfer it to a plate and garnish with finely chopped green onions.
Final Thoughts
Hikado is more than just a stew—it’s a dish that carries the history and flavors of Nagasaki’s cultural exchange. Its rich, comforting taste and unique blend of ingredients make it a must-try for anyone exploring Japanese cuisine. If you have the chance to visit Japan, be sure to seek out hikado and experience this flavorful piece of history for yourself!
If you enjoyed learning about hikado, you might also like other comforting Japanese stews like Okinawa oden, buri daikon, or kenchin-jiru—each offering a unique taste of regional flavors and history.
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