Osechi Ryori- Japanese New Years Food

Osechi Ryori is eaten in Japan at New Years. It consists of many special foods that are not usually eaten throughout the year.  Many of the foods are symbolic or contain special meaning such as good health or prosperity.  These foods are displayed in “jubako”, special boxes traditionally made of lacquer.

Many of the foods in Osechi Ryori can be made in advance and kept at room temperature without going bad.  We have already started making some of the items to go in our jubako.  One of the items that we made today is kobumaki.

Kombu and kampyo are both dried and need to be soaked in water before using

Kobumaki is made by wrapping vegetables such as carrots and gobo (burdock root) in kombu (kelp).  It is the tightly tied shut with kampyo (dried gord).  It is then simmered in a soup stock made from kombu, soy sauce, sake and sugar.