Rice cracker
A rice cracker is an East Asian cracker made from bleached or unbleached rice flour. Many regional varieties exist, though most are fried or baked and puffed and/or brushed with soy sauce or vinegar to create a smooth texture. Some may also be wrapped in seaweed.
Preparation[edit]
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History[edit]
Rice crackers are thought to have originated during China's Han dynasty (c. 202 BC). Later, during the Tang dynasty, there are records of senbei being served to houseguests as a token of courtesy.[1] In Japan, they were popularized during the Edo period.[2] The Japanese Soka senbei (made in Soka City, Saitama Prefecture) is widely considered to be the first modern rice cracker.[3][4]
Serving[edit]
Rice crackers are traditionally served with soup or salad, along with green tea and/ or alcoholic beverages.[5] In the western world, they are often eaten as a snack food in trail mixes along with ingredients such as wasabi peas, nuts, dried and salted edamame, and sesame sticks.
Types[edit]
Rice crackers are produced in several varieties and shapes. Some of the most popular are listed below.[6][7]
Cambodia[edit]
- Num kreab, a round, flat Cambodian rice cracker
Japan[edit]
- Beika (米菓), a dry Japanese confectionery made from rice
- Arare (food) (あられ), a stone-shaped, bite-sized Japanese rice cracker
- Oriibu no hana ('olive flower')
- Senbei (せんべい), a flat disk-shaped, palm-sized cracker traditionally eaten with green tea[8]
- Shoyu senbei, a cracker brushed with soy sauce
- Nori senbei, a cracker toasted and wrapped in dried sushi nori
- Kuro goma senbei, a nutty cracker speckled with black sesame seeds
- Togarashi senbei, a spicy cracker coated in red chili powder and flakes
- Ika senbei, or Ika sen, a cracker baked with grilled squid
- Ebi senbei, or Ebi sen, a cracker baked with minced shrimp
- Kuromame senbei, a cracker made with dough mixed with black soybeans
- Zarame senbei, a cracker sprinkled with crystals of sugar
- Kaki no tane, a small, seasoned crescent-shape snack that bares a resemblance to peanuts
- Arare (food) (あられ), a stone-shaped, bite-sized Japanese rice cracker
Indonesia[edit]
- Krupuk gendar, also known as krupuk puli, krupuk karak, krupuk beras, or krupuk nasi, is an Indonesian style ground rice cracker commonly found in Java island.[9]
- Rengginang, a thick cracker made with sticky rice granules.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "What is Senbei? The Japanese Rice Crackers With a 1000 Year History - TokyoTreat Blog". TokyoTreat: Japanese Candy & Snacks Subscription Boxes. 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "Snack Time! Know Your Japanese Rice Crackers | Guidable". Guidable Guidable (in Japanese). 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "草加せんべいの歴史と現在 (Soka rice cracker of history and current)". 草加市役所 (Soka City Hall). Archived from the original on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "Traditional Japanese snack: "Soka Senbei"｜CHOCOTABI SAITAMA". CHOCOTABI SAITAMA (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ "Japanese Rice Cracker Recipe: 3 Tips for Making Rice Crackers". Masterclass. May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Senbei, Arare, and Okaki: not your conventional rice crackers". Arigato Travel. 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ Lin, Lisa (2021-04-09). "A Guide to Asian Rice Crackers". Healthy Nibbles by Lisa Lin. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "Different Types of Senbei (Japanese Crackers)". gurunavi.com. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ Aisyah, Yuharrani (2020-11-23). "Resep Kerupuk Gendar dari Nasi Sisa, Tanpa Garam Bleng dan Penyedap". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-03-11.