Chawan-mushi (Savory steamed egg custard) is made from eggs and dashi (soup stock) and garnished with shrimp and ginkgo nuts. It is steamed in a cup and often served as a cold or hot appetizer. It is a standard item at the sushi restaurant.
Unlike other egg custard, it is not sweet but it has a savory flavor packed with umami from dashi and topping ingredients. Its velvety feeling on the palate is irresistible.
Then why do sushi restaurants serve chawan-mushi?
Because sushi is primarily a cold dish, it is customary to include a warm item like chawan-mushi to balance the meal. This idea is also consistent with traditional Japanese dietary wisdom, such as yakuzen (Japanese medicinal cuisine), which holds that raw fish and vinegared rice are “cooling” foods. Serving a warm dish like chawan-mushi is considered beneficial for the body, helping to restore balance and making the overall dining experience more harmonious and comforting.
Another reason is that the ingredients used for chawan-mushi (茶碗蒸し), such as shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, eggs, and kamaboko, are either used daily at sushi restaurants or are readily available at market stores that sell sushi items.
We hope this information will be helpful.
Revision date: September 2, 2025
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