(あん)かけ

あんかけ
noun
dish topped with thick starchy sauce
1. dish topped with thick starchy sauce; ankake
A preparation in which a dashi- or broth-based sauce thickened with potato starch is poured over food such as tofu, fish, noodles, or rice. Also refers to the sauce itself.
(あん)かけ豆腐(どうふ)注文(ちゅうもん)した。
I ordered tofu with thick sauce.
中華(ちゅうか)(あん)かけ()きそばが()べたい。
I want to eat Chinese-style ankake yakisoba.
()げた(さかな)にきのこの(あん)かけをたっぷりかけて()した。
I served the deep-fried fish topped generously with a mushroom ankake sauce.

The (あん) here is not sweet bean paste but a savory thickened sauce, made by stirring water-dissolved 片栗粉(かたくりこ) (potato starch) into hot broth.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • (あん)かけ豆腐(どうふ): tofu in thick sauce
  • (あん)かけ()きそば: fried noodles topped with ankake
  • (あん)かけチャーハン: fried rice topped with ankake
  • きのこの(あん)かけ: mushroom ankake sauce

The ankake style keeps food hot longer because the thick sauce traps heat, making it a common winter preparation.