The Maker Speaks
Zeri-fry
Okara (Tofu Refuse) Korokke in Saitama?
Okara (Tofu Refuse) Korokke in Saitama?
Hello. I'm going to talk about Zeri-fry here. What is it? you are supposed to ask. It is the local cuisine in the northern area of Saitama, Japan. It's not so popular, I suppose many don't know what it is even inside. I believe it is reasonable that most of foreigners have never head. What is it? Seeing is believing like told patois.
Zeri-fry
File: Gyoda Zeri Fry.JPG
from the Japanese Wikipedia
（Photo: Oct, 10, 2005）
How? It may be difficult to find what looks similar in your nation. In Japan, very popular is Korokke (the Japanese fried dish originally related to the croquette). And it looks like Korokke in fact. Of course, zeri-fry is not Korokke. What's the difference? Most of Korokke (Japanese potato croquette) usually use chopped meat, but zeri-fry do tofu (bean-curd) refuse instead. Why? I don't know at all. Anyway, it just means zeri-fry is a low-calorie diet, but it is not what they made lately. They say it was already popular in the beginning of the 20th century.
Zeri-fry
File: Zeri Furai, Gyohda, Saitama, Japan.JPG
from the Japanese Wikipedia
（Photo: November 4, 2012）
Why do they call it zeri-fry? Why did they make in the north part of Saitama? And why do they use tofu refuse instead of chopped meat? Thick fog covers the questions, it looks it doesn't get clear. I found some theories, but it is still hard to confirm with them. But is it truly necessary? The most important thing is what you feel when you have zeri-fry, isn't it? I guess so. Then I would like you to try when you visit the northern Saitama.
Zeri-fry
File: Gyoda Zeri Fry.JPG
from the Japanese Wikipedia
（Photo: Oct, 10, 2005）
How? It may be difficult to find what looks similar in your nation. In Japan, very popular is Korokke (the Japanese fried dish originally related to the croquette). And it looks like Korokke in fact. Of course, zeri-fry is not Korokke. What's the difference? Most of Korokke (Japanese potato croquette) usually use chopped meat, but zeri-fry do tofu (bean-curd) refuse instead. Why? I don't know at all. Anyway, it just means zeri-fry is a low-calorie diet, but it is not what they made lately. They say it was already popular in the beginning of the 20th century.
Zeri-fry
File: Zeri Furai, Gyohda, Saitama, Japan.JPG
from the Japanese Wikipedia
（Photo: November 4, 2012）
Why do they call it zeri-fry? Why did they make in the north part of Saitama? And why do they use tofu refuse instead of chopped meat? Thick fog covers the questions, it looks it doesn't get clear. I found some theories, but it is still hard to confirm with them. But is it truly necessary? The most important thing is what you feel when you have zeri-fry, isn't it? I guess so. Then I would like you to try when you visit the northern Saitama.
