Japanese natto 101: What is it? How to eat and 26 secret toppings explained

Love it or hate it, there are so many ways to enjoy fermented soybeans called "natto". From how to eat it to popular brands and delicious toppings, here I'm going to teach you everything you need to know about this traditional Japanese superfood!

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What is Japanese natto?

Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans. It's characterized by its unique smell and stringy, sticky consistency, and is one of Japan's most popular breakfast dishes. It is also one of the few processed foods where the whole soybean can be eaten as they are.

A bit like marmite (or vegemite for Australian readers), natto is well known for being one of those foods that you either love or hate, there's no in-between!

It is also famous for its unique fibrinolytic enzyme called "nattokinase" which supposedly has many health benefits. I won't dive into the details but if you're interested in learning more, you can check WebMD.

History of natto

Even though natto is something every Japanese person knows, the history has always been uncertain.

The oldest document in which the word "natto" can be found is in the "Shin-sarugaku-ki" written by Fujiwara no Akihira in the mid-11th century.

However, soybeans were already introduced to Japan in the Jomon period (around 14,000-10,000BC). In the Yayoi period (around 10,000 BC to 300 AD), Japanese houses were covered with straw and there were furnaces, so the temperature and humidity were suitable for the growth of bacteria, and it is believed that this led to the accidental production of natto.

Nonetheless, natto has a long long history!

Natto for breakfast

Nattto is still well-loved breakfast in Japan and I eat it almost everyday while I'm in Japan. Wherever you stay in Japan, there's always natto in breakfast buffet at hotels.

But when did this breakfast tradition start?

Regardless of natto's long history, it is said that it was first popularised in the Edo period (1603-1868). That's when people start eating natto for breakfast.

This was also the period when the mass production of soy sauce began, so it kind of makes sense! I wouldn't dare to eat natto without soy sauce myself either!

How Natto is Made

There are different ways to make natto but here is the general method that factories use to produce natto:

1. Wash soybeans
2. Soak in water
3. Steam
4. Apply natto bacteria
5. Storing it in a large container
6. Fermentation
7. Maturing
8. Packaging
9. Delivery

Although you can make natto at home as well, it's extremely rare to do so, even in Japan. We just buy packs of natto at supermarkets.

3 general types of natto

In my opinion, you can categorise natto into 3 categories:

• Normal sized natto
• Hikiwari natto (ground up)
• Ootsubu natto (use giant soybeans)

Normal sized natto

I would say more than 50% of natto products are in this category. At least this is something we consider "normal size"

If you would like to try natto for the first time, I recommend this one.

Hikiwari natto

Hikiwari natto is a type of natto made from large, fully ripe soybeans that have been ground and cracked using a mill-like device.

Hikiwari natto only covers about 7-8% of the natto market, but in some parts of the Tohoku region, this particular natto is preferred to any of others.

Because the bits are tiny, it can be a little difficult to pick up with chopsticks and tends to stick to things, however in my opinion, the taste is a little milder than regular natto so it's quite easy to eat taste-wise.

Ootsubu natto

This type of natto is made with giant whole soybeans so you can enjoy each soy bean to the fullest.

However, this is more for natto lovers and the taste and texture are more pungent than the others. I do like this ootsubu natto but it's not usually my first choice.

It's also very filling.

How to eat natto

Okay, enjoying natto is not as straight forward as just picking it up and eating it. There are a few steps you need to follow before you eat.

So here, I will list the typical steps you should follow before you start eating natto!

Mix at least 50 times

I know a pack of natto comes with sauce and Japanese mustard, but we're going to mix natto as it is without any of these sauces.

Make sure to mix 50 times, ideally 150 times! And mix fast!

This basically whisks air into the film that coats the beans making it fluffy and light. It also helps release umami, so the more you mix, the better the taste and mouth-feel!

This is an extremely important step to take to make natto more enjoyable.

Add toppings and sauces

After mixing natto enough on its own, add the sauces and toppings (e.g. chopped spring onion).

Mix again until they're incorporated.

Put it on rice

I personally eat natto as it is, but more than 90% of people put natto on a bowl of hot rice and eat it that way.

It's not so strong on rice so I recommend to do this way if you're not used to it yet.

5 Best natto brands in Japan

This might not be relevant to people who lives outside Japan, but I though people who live in Japan from abroad might want to know which one to try first.

So, I will list 5 best natto brands in Japan here!

It took me a long time to make this list (and whole article...) as I actually bought each natto pack one by one and ate all by myself.

Okame natto: tsuyu tappuri

I've been a fan of natto for basically my whole life and this is my go-to brand.

Tsuyu tappuri (つゆたっぷり) means there's extra sauce, making it extra tasty and full of umami!

The beans are relatively small but not hikiwari, which is my favourite kind too.

Mizkan: hone genki

Absolute classic! This brand has been around since I was a little kid, possibly even before I was born.

The soy beans are also relatively small too.

If you wanna try "the most standard natto", this is the one to go for.

Mizkan: Kin no tsubu niowa natto

Another classic! "niowa natto" implies special natto without the strong smell.

I know one of the main reasons why some people dislike natto is because of the smell, but does this really not have smell? No, it doesn't.

Funnily enough, my wife who is English cannot stand natto (just yet) but even she says she can't smell this one.

This is definitely a good option for very first timer!

Okame natto: Yama wasabi natto

You will probably be surprised how many kinds of natto there are in one general supermarket in Japan.

There are not only these general nattos I have explained above, but also kinds of natto with twists.

As the name suggests, this one has yama wasabi (horse radish, not wasabi) instead of mustard.

I must say, this one is definitely by far the best natto pack with twist so far.

Mizkan: Tamago shoyu tare

A lot of people in Japan eat natto with raw egg.

The concept of this natto is "why not include egg element in one?". I was a bit skeptical at first whether it really does taste like tamago natto, but I was wrong.

The texture and taste are well recreated and it works beautifully.

26 Natto Topping Ideas: 20+ years of research revealed

I personally think the beauty of natto is the fact you can add a lot of different toppings and change the flavour as you like!

I've eaten natto for more than 20 years and have tried countless variations of toppings.

So, I thought it would be interesting to share my 20 years worth of topping list! I can guarantee that this is the most informative natto topping list (even including Japanese websites)!

Tenkasu (Tempura Bits)

Want to add crunchy texture and a snacky sensation? Tenkasu (tempura bits) is definitely the one to consider!

This topping is something I've loved since as a kid.

• When to add: Mix in
• Amount: 1 tbsp tenkasu
• Recommended: Someone who wants to add crunchy texture
• Effect: Making natto more like a snack
• My personal rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Grated Daikon

In need of refreshing kick? Then grated daikon is a great option!

It adds radish's sourness and refreshing-ness in one go!

• When to add: Mix in
• Amount: 1 tbsp grated daikon radish
• Recommended: Someone who wants natto to be refreshing
• Effect: Making natto refreshing
• My personal rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Takuan pickles

Takuan (たくあん) is a type of yellow pickled daikon. Adding sweet and sour takuan pickles is a great idea for natto!

Not only the flavour, but it also adds the crunchy texture of takuan to natto!

• When to add: Mix in
• Amount: 1-2 tbsp takuan pickles cut up small
• Recommended: Someone who likes takuan
• Effect: Create sweet and sour taste, and crunchy texture
• My personal rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Chilli oil

This is a classic, at least to me!

The combo of chili oil and natto is one of the best! I personally would add a bit of chilli oil in natto even when I was a kid. It adds a nice spicy kick.

• When to add: Mix in
• Amount: ½ tsp chilli oil
• Recommended: Someone who wants to add spiciness
• Effect: Making natto spicy
• My personal rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Avocado

Surprisingly good combo!

The taste of avocado and natto surprisingly go well and avocado creates a bit of meaty texture!

This is one of my favourite toppings!

• When to add: At the very end
• Amount: ¼ cubed avocado
• Recommended: Someone who likes avocado
• Effect: Creating a meaty texture
• My personal rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Kimchi

Japanese and Korean fusion!

This is one of the most popular combinations and the sourness and spiciness of kimchi actually work really well with natto!

• When to add: At the very end
• Amount: 1-2 tbsp kimchi
• Recommended: Someone who wants to add sourness and spiciness
• Effect: Adding sourness and spiciness
• My personal rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Sesame oil and salt

Classic golden combo, salt and sesame oil!

You might not think they don't make as much flavour as other toppings, but this combo will not disappoint!

I recommend using a nice quality salt on this one!

• When to add: At the very end
• Amount: 1tsp sesame oil and a pinch of salt
• Recommended: Someone who likes flavour of sesame oil
• Effect: Adding special kick
• My personal rating: ★★★★☆ (⅘)

Finely chopped spring onion

This is probably the easiest and most common topping. But it's important to note that we only use the green part of the spring onion for the topping in this case.

Just finely chop the green bit of spring onion, and add it to your natto!

• When to add: Together with sauces
• Amount: 1 tbsp per pack
• Recommended: Someone who wants refreshing taste in natto
• Effect: Natto becomes refreshing and they're a great combo for nutrition as well
• My personal rating: ★★★★☆ (⅘)

Chips/Crisps

I don't think there are many that don't like potato chips/crisps. Why not put it in natto?

If you like chips, maybe it's worth trying! It adds a pleasant saltiness and some crispy texture too! You could even experiment with different flavours. I kept it simple with lightly salted potato chips.

• When to add: Mix in
• Amount: 1 tbsp crushed potato chips/crisps
• Recommended: Someone who likes potato chips/crisps
• Effect: Gives natto crunchy texture
• My personal rating: ★★★★☆ (⅘)

Raw egg/egg yolk

Another classic topping! It's no secret that raw egg and natto go well together!

We sometimes mix hot bowl of rice, natto and raw egg and call it "natto tamago gohan". I used to love it when I was a kid.

But please make sure to use fresh and pasteurised eggs to ensure they're safe to eat raw.

• When to add: After the sauces
• Amount: 1 egg/egg yolk per pack with extra soy sauce (about ½ to 1 tsp)
• Recommended: Someone who likes tamago kake gohan
• Effect: The smell of natto becomes milder and texture becomes more silky
• My personal rating: ★★★★☆ (⅘)

Umeboshi (pickled plum)

This was my favourite when I was a kid!

Umeboshi (pickled plum) gives it a great sourness and texture, they work very nicely with the natto!

• When to add: At the end
• Amount: 1 umeboshi
• Recommended: Someone who likes sour taste
• Effect: Gives a great amount of sourness
• My personal rating: ★★★★☆ (⅘)

Kizami nori

This is also a classic! The sea flavour from the nori comes together with the natto and they create a unique yet harmonious taste.

You can probably tell they work well as natto sushi roll is popular and you can find it easily in convenience stores nationwide.

• When to add: At the very end
• Amount: 1 pinch of kizaminori per pack
• Recommended: Someone who likes nori
• Effect: Create another layer of flavour and texture
• My personal rating: ★★★★☆ (⅘)

Wasabi

Mustard not enough? Are you a wasabi lover?

Then you can add wasabi instead of mustard for a stronger kick!

• When to add: Mix in
• Amount: ½ tsp
• Recommended: Someone who likes wasabi
• Effect: Create hint of wasabi
• My personal rating: ★★★★☆ (⅘)

Tabasco (Chilli sauce)

To tell you the truth, I was a bit skeptical about adding such spicy and sour component to natto at first.

However, as long as you keep the amount small, it kind of adds a good different flavour to it.

If you like chilli sauce, it's worth a try!

• When to add: Mix in
• Amount: Dash
• Recommended: Someone who likes spicy and sour chilli sauce flavour
• Effect: Create a small yet completely different flavour
• My personal rating: ★★★★☆ (⅘)

Shirasu (boiled whitebait)

Boiled whitebait is a popular topping for many things including natto!

It gives natto a bit of fishiness and different texture.

• When to add: At the very end
• Amount: 1-2 tbsp
• Recommended: Someone who likes shirasu or fish
• Effect: Creates a fishy taste
• My personal rating: ★★★☆☆ (⅗)

Mayonnaise & Black pepper

Certainly not traditional, but it's worth a try if you like mayo and pepper or you're not quite used to the taste of natto yet and want a strong flavour to mask the natto a little.

Some people even say this way was a game changer and started to like natto since using these toppings.

• When to add: At the very end
• Amount: 1 pinch of black pepper and 1 tsp mayo
• Recommended: Natto beginner
• Effect: Making natto mild
• My personal rating: ★★★☆☆ (⅗)

Okura

Stringy + Stringy =...?

We call stringy food "nebaneba (ネバネバ)", and this is certainly the case of nebaneba combination!

Okura doesn't alter the taste a lot but it gives some nice colour and extra nutrition to it!

• When to add: Mix together
• Amount: 3 okuras
• Recommended: Someone who wants to add some vegetable
• Effect: Gives it a bit of veggy taste
• My personal rating: ★★★☆☆ (⅗)

Ooba/shiso leaves

Do you like the unique flavour of shiso/ooba leaves?

If so, this might be your go-to topping! It's subtle but gives it shiso leaf flavour!

• When to add: Mix together
• Amount: 2 shiso/ooba leaves
• Recommended: Someone who likes shiso/ooba leaves
• Effect: Adds the unique flavour and texture
• My personal rating: ★★★☆☆ (⅗)

Pesto and olive oil

Slightly quirky combo with pesto and olive oil.

While you can have completely different experience with natto, the chemistry is questionable.

But don't get me wrong, I've always loved pesto and olive oil!

• When to add: Use instead of soy sauce and mustard
• Amount: ½ - 1 tbsp pesto and dash of olive oil
• Recommended: Someone who wants to try something completely different
• Effect: Create completely different sensation
• My personal rating: ★★★☆☆ (⅗)

Hard cheese and black pepper

Natto and cheese might not be the first idea to come up, but some people like this combo!

The effect is quite subtle and it gives a bit of cheesy hint to natto.

• When to add: Mix together
• Amount: 1 tsp grated parmegiano
• Recommended: Someone who likes cheesy flavour
• Effect: Adds a hint of cheesiness
• My personal rating: ★★★☆☆ (⅗)

Mentaiko (spicy cod roe)

Mentaiko is a type of ingredient made with pickled Alaskan pollock eggs that have been flavoured with chilis and spices. It certainly gives different texture and taste to natto, but it's not as powerful as I thought it would be.

If I use mentaiko, I'd prefer to use it for mentaiko pasta.

• When to add: Mix together
• Amount: 1 small mentaiko
• Recommended: Someone who likes mentaiko and its texture
• Effect: Adds a uniquely different flavour and texture
• My personal rating: ★★★☆☆ (⅗)

Honey

Extremely surprising topping, but some people in Japan put a bit of honey to make it sweeter.

It's definitely something that you don't want to over do it!

Personally, while the added sweetness is not overpowering, it's won't be my go-to topping as I prefer savory foods myself. But if you like some sweetness in your foods, it's certainly worth a try!

• When to add: Mix together
• Amount: ¼ tsp
• Recommended: Someone who wants to sweeten natto
• Effect: Adds a unique sweetness
• My personal rating: ★★★☆☆ (⅗)

Katsuobushi (bonito flakes)

Katsuobushi is the name for bonito flakes made with dry flakes of skipjack tuna. It's a must-have item for Japanese cuisine! While it gives a hint of a fishy taste, the effect is still subtle.

• When to add: Mix together
• Amount: 1 tsp katsuobushi
• Recommended: Someone who likes fishy flavour
• Effect: Adds a hint of fishiness
• My personal rating: ★★★☆☆ (⅗)

Curry powder

Do you like a slight curry flavour? Adding tiny bit of curry powder gives natto a completely different twist.

• When to add: Mix in
• Amount: ⅛ tsp curry powder
• Recommended: Someone who likes curry flavour
• Effect: Adds a hint of curry
• My personal rating: ★★★☆☆ (⅗)

Ponzu

Ponzu is a vinegary sour Japanese condiment, that goes well with a lot of things like cold tofu.

While it gives natto the particular sourness, it was slightly disappointing for me. I love sour flavours so maybe it just wasn't sour enough, if you like a mildly sour flavour then perhaps you can try this.

However if you are like me and want to add real sourness, I recommend pickled plums instead.

• When to add: Use ponzu instead of soy sauce
• Amount: 1 tsp
• Recommended: Someone who likes mildly sour flavour
• Effect: Adds the particular ponzu sourness
• My personal rating: ★★☆☆☆ (⅖)

Miso

When I tried to replace soy sauce/tsuyu with miso, there was one concern: Is it gonna be too salty?

It wasn't too salty as I expected, however, the texture of the natto became a bit dry and wasn't as good without a liquid form of condiment.

So I don't particularly recommend this.

• When to add: Use miso instead of sauce
• Amount: ½ tsp
• Recommended: Not really recommend
• Effect: Adds miso flavour
• My personal rating: ★★☆☆☆ (⅖)

Verdict: 3 toppings that I particularly recommend

In conclusion, there has been amazing toppings and not-so-great toppings. To sum up, the 3 best toppings for natto are:

1. Tenkasu (Tempura bits/flakes): 1 tbsp
2. Chilli oil: ½ tsp
3. Grated daikon: 1 tbsp

I hope you learned a lot about natto from this post. What's your favourite brand or topping? Comment below!

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