What is Surimi Seafood? Everything You Need to Know in 2024

Surimi Seafood: What Is It?

You probably wonder what kind of seafood it is when you hear it for the first time. Though you might feel you never heard of surimi seafood or even the surimi itself, you have probably eaten it once.

So, what is Surimi seafood exactly? Surimi seafood is the term for seafood products made from fish protein through various processes. Alaska pollock is one of the white-fleshed fish that has been contributing to the surimi industry. After going through various processes, the fish were then blended with natural flavorings to produce a variety of surimi seafood products, such as crab, lobster, and scallops.

Surimi seafood, as it keeps improving in the culinary industry, becomes popular as the secret ingredient in many seafood treats. Other than offering heavenly-flavored seafood products, people are also getting obsessed with the health benefits that they can obtain while trying delicious recipes with surimi seafood.

Exploring the World’s Famous Surimi Seafood

Since you already know what surimi is, don't pass up the chance to find out more about the most popular surimi seafood in the world. Surimi does come from Japan, but it's now popular all over the world. This means that surimi seafood is prepared in different ways in each country. Check this out:

• Crab sticks or surimi sticks

The surimi stick, often known as a crab stick, is the original and most well-known surimi seafood product. This product is known as "kanikama" in Japan.

Fun fact: Manufacturers once labeled this product as "imitation crabmeat," which gave rise to concerns that it might be untrustworthy and fake. However, the National Fisheries Institutions came up with a solution by giving it a new identity: “Crab-flavored surimi seafood.”

Although tropical surimi is now commonly utilized, Alaska pollock was once the primary raw material for crab sticks. The American preference is for the stick variety, which finds widespread use as a garnish for sushi, salads, and vinegar dishes. Crab sticks are a popular surimi seafood product in many Asian nations, including Korea, China, and Thailand.

• Fish balls

Fish balls are a common delicacy in Southeast Asia, and you might be surprised to learn that they have different names in different countries. Among other things, fish balls are usually created using surimi and miced meat. Threadfin bream, lizardfish, and goatfish are some of the tropical fish that are typically used to manufacture fish balls with surimi. As a snack, fish balls in Thailand are typically grilled or fried. For example, in Chinese cuisine, fish balls are traditionally cooked in noodle soups. 

• Chikuwa

The surimi seafood product known as chikuwa is shaped like a tube. Several types of fish, including pike conger, lizardfish, yellow croaker, and Alaska pollock, are used to make chikuwa. This product is commonly used in boiling dishes like oden, a traditional boiled dish in Japan. Not only that, but it's a snack staple and goes great in stir-fries. Another option is tofu-chikuwa, a dish that combines dry tofu with surimi paste. Prepare to have your taste buds blown away by this surimi fish product.

• Tempura

Tempura, also known as deep-fried kamaboko, is another type of surimi fish that mostly employs Alaska pollock. Making tempura involves combining surimi paste with egg white and various starches like potato, wheat, and tapioca. The versatile surimi seafood can be enjoyed in a variety of ways: as a snack, stir-fried, or even boiled in dishes like oden, similar to chikuwa.

Is Surimi seafood safe and worth consuming?

Surimi seafood is popular all over the world, and the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries states it's the most popular prepared fish product. Surimi seafood is very popular for more than just its trendy looks and variety of tastes; it is also beneficial for your health.

Surimi is high in protein and vital amino acids. It is interesting that these amino acids stay the same no matter what kind of fish is used to make surimi. What makes it even better is that surimi seafood is easier for your body to handle than fresh fish meat. Surimi seafood is also a good choice for people who care about their health. The amount of fat in surimi seafood is low because it is mostly made from white meat fish, which naturally has less fat when it comes to fat content. Which means that not only does surimi seafood taste good, it is also healthy and easy to digest.

Explore Surimi Seafood Recipes

Take a tasty trip to your home with these fun recipes using surimi seafood. Here are some recipes that you can try while being the main chef at your home:

• Crab salad

Delicious and simple to prepare, crab salad is a must-try. Cut up your crab sticks and some red onion; add some chopped celery, Old Bay, pepper, salt, fresh dill, and mayonnaise. Mix it all together. Then sprinkle additional dill on top. Put it in the fridge and savor it later, or serve it immediately. If you are in Singapore, you can also find this meal at local Singaporean eateries. 

• Oden

To make a tasty pot of oden, mix Awase dashi, sake, mirin, soy sauce, and salt to make a rich soup. Get a variety of foods, such as different kinds of fish cakes and fish balls (nerimono), daikon radish, konnyaku, and boiled eggs. Then, put everything in a big pot and let it simmer for 25 minutes. Finally, add the hanpen and mochi kinchaku. Simmer for three more minutes, and then serve the tasty oden for a rewarding Japanese hot pot experience.

• Fish ball noodle soup

Boiling water with instant anchovy powder will make a tasty fish ball noodle soup. Add the fish balls (and pork balls if you want) and fish dumplings. Cook until the balls float to the top. Add the spinach and cook for one minute. Then add the pork mince and cook through a sieve with a slot. Now your tasty fish ball soup, full of different ingredients, is ready to be enjoyed!

Conclusion

Surimi seafood stands out as a tasty and flexible option in a world full of excellent foods. It offers many delicious flavors. From crab sticks to fish balls and chikuwa, surimi seafood can be used in many meals. Surimi seafood is not only tasty but also nutritious because of its high protein content and ease of digestion. Start your culinary journey with surimi seafood by trying some recipes. Well, why eat plain food when you can make your meal more interesting with surimi seafood? Surimi seafood won't let you down.