Negitoro

Negitoro is a Japanese dish of minced raw tuna, traditionally served with green onion and often eaten as sushi or as a rice bowl topping.

Negitoro is a Japanese dish of minced raw tuna, traditionally served with green onion and often eaten as sushi or as a rice bowl topping. In practice, the term is used for tuna mince or chopped tuna preparations rather than a single fixed recipe. It is a common menu item in Japanese sushi restaurants, including in Canada where it appears on menus at sushi restaurants and conveyor-belt chains.

Definition

Negitoro refers to a Japanese tuna preparation made from minced raw tuna with green onion. It is usually served as sushi or over rice, rather than as a standalone dish.

Name and origin

One explanation for the name links it to negitoru, a verb meaning to scrape or chip away, referring to the way tuna meat is collected from bones and skin. Sources also describe it as having originated as a practical way to use remaining tuna meat before becoming a menu item.

Serving styles

Negitoro is commonly served in sushi rolls, gunkan-maki, or as negitorodon over rice. Some preparations are seasoned with soy-based sauce, while others focus on the tuna and scallion combination.

Ingredients and variation

Although negitoro is often associated with toro, or fatty tuna, sources note that it may also be made from other tuna cuts or scrap meat. Regional and restaurant variations can differ in texture, seasoning, and tuna species used.