Kohada Sushi, コハダ (Gizzard Shad)

By Yutaka Nakamoto | December 31st, 2017


Category	Hikarimono (silver-skinned fish)
Size	Small (10 inches, 25 centimeters)
Names	Kohada, Shinko, Nakazumi, Gizzard Shad
Season	June to February
Served	Salted and marinated in vinegar over rice

Shimmering silver-skin kohada are such wonderful Summer treats. They have a very special place in Japanese cuisine, especially sushi. The general name for these fish is konoshiro, which are small sardine-sized fish. In English, they have the unfortunately unappetizing name "Gizzard Shad." As they grow, they get new names in Japanese to denote their size:

Shinko: small, baby shad
Kohada: medium sized fattier fish
Nakazumi: fully-grown adult fish

Photo courtesy of Darren Samuelson

Kohada are one of the most traditional variety of sushi in authentic Edomae sushi.

What Does Kohada Taste Like

Kohada sushi tastes very flavorful and has a very rich umami flavors brought out by its preparation. Sushi chefs will usually "pickle" the kohada by lightly salting them for about 20 minutes then marinating them in rice vinegar for 30-40 minutes. The fish tastes somewhat similar to very fresh sardines (iwashi) or less strong mackerel (saba).

Kohada sushi salted and marinated in vinegar

It is very common to top kohada sushi with oboro (crumpled shrimp paste) as a traditional Edomae preparation. But many modern sushi chefs use a wide variety of toppings.

When Are Kohada in Season

Though larger fish can be available throughout the year, kohada are small fish with short lifespans. Kohada start to come into season when the colonies begin spawning in April and May. As the season moves into the Summer, they start to grow from shinko minnows into kohada most commonly served as sushi. They continue to be available as late as Autumn.

How Kohada are Prepared for Sushi

To prepare kohada for sushi, first brush away any scales with the knife being careful not to damage the skin. Slice off the head and tail. Cut open the belly and remove any innards. Wedge your knife between the spine and the fish's back flesh and slice down the body to remove the spine. Then lay the body out flat and cut away any of the belly bones.

Sprinkle a layer of salt over the kohada bodies' flesh and leave it to draw out moisture for 20 minutes. After being salted, wash the salt off the fish with rice vinegar. Then proceed to marinate the kohada in rice vinegar for 30 minutes.

The kohada are now ready to be scored and made into nigiri. Many chefs use intricate cuts to showcase the silver skin of the fish, such as this cut which braids three strips together.

Photo courtesy of kennejima

Where To Find Kohada Sushi

Kohada fish are native to Japan so most shops should have reasonably-priced kohada or shinko sushi. Though you may have trouble finding them when they are out of season.

Unfortunately for foreigners, your local sushi shop must fly the fish in from Tsukiji market. Due to the prohibitively high cost, only a high-end sushiya will provide this delicious fish for their customers. The following sushi restaurants have served Kohada in the past and would be worth checking out to try a bite of this classic Japanese delicacy: