揚(あ)げかまぼこ

あげかまぼこ
noun
deep-fried fish cake
food
1. deep-fried fish cake
A type of fish cake made from surimi (ground fish paste) that is shaped and deep-fried. A common ingredient in Japanese home cooking, appearing in oden, udon, and as a side dish.
おでんに揚(あ)げかまぼこを入(い)れた。
I put deep-fried fish cake in the oden.
揚(あ)げかまぼこをそのまま食(た)べてもおいしい。
Deep-fried fish cake is delicious even eaten as is.
I bought two deep-fried fish cakes at the supermarket and put them in udon.

Composed of 揚(あ)げ (deep-fried) and かまぼこ (蒲鉾(かまぼこ), fish cake). The generic term for any deep-fried variety of fish cake.

Similar words

Called by different names across Japan:

  • さつま揚(あ)げ: the most common name in eastern Japan (originally from Satsuma/Kagoshima)
  • 天(てん)ぷら: in western Japan, especially Kansai and Kyushu (not to be confused with the battered 天(てん)ぷら dish)
  • はんぺん: in some regions (though 半片(はんぺん) usually refers to a different, softer fish cake)
  • かまぼこ (蒲鉾(かまぼこ)): fish cake — the general category; usually refers to the steamed variety served on a wooden board
  • ちくわ (竹輪(ちくわ)): tube-shaped fish cake — a different shape, with a hollow center
  • 練(ね)り物(もの): surimi products — the general term for all processed fish paste products

Common collocations