Bonito: did you know you can eat it dried & fresh?

Bonito is a word used to mean “pretty” in Spanish and Portuguese. But the type of bonito I’m talking about here refers to a fish often used in Japanese cuisine.

Bonito is a type of medium-sized ray-finned predatory fish. They belong to the Scombridae family, which also produces the mackerel, tuna, and Spanish mackerel fish, as well as the butterfly kingfish.

They closely resemble skipjack tuna and can be used as a substitute for skipjack in recipes.

There are 7 species across 4 genera that comprise the bonito tribe. 3 of the 4 genera are monotypic genera, having a single species each.

Bonito is often incorporated into food dishes. It has a firm texture, a dark color, and a moderate fat content.

Many say it can be used with light seasoning because they say its taste is delicious. It can be eaten grilled, pickled, or baked.

Now that you have some background as to what bonito is, read on to find out how it can be enjoyed in dishes.

But first, check out this video that user Way of Ramen made of homemade bonito flakes:

Popular bonito recipe dishes

Bonito is quite delicious and there are several ways to incorporate it into your recipes. Here are some examples of how it can be prepared:

• Grilled bonito: Bonito benefits from high-temperature cooking. Hence, it’s quite tasty when grilled. If you’re grilling bonito, make sure the grill is clean and the fish is well-oiled.
• Pan-seared bonito (also called bonito tataki in Japan): A smoke point oil such as canola, grapeseed, or sunflower should work well to pan sear bonito over high heat. When cooked, the outside should be seared and the inside should maintain a pink color.
• Pressure-canned bonito: This will give bonito a taste that’s similar to chunk light tuna. To get the taste, put the fish into pint cans with a pinch of salt and a spoonful or 2 of olive oil. Pressure can at 10 psi for 90-100 minutes to get the desired results.
• Smoked bonito: Bonito tastes great smoked after sitting in a brine of brown sugar, salt, and water. Fruitwood makes a great choice in adding to the flavor of the fish as it’s being smoked.
• Greek baked bonito with herbs and potatoes: This well-known Greek dish requires seasoning the fish and potatoes, then baking them together in a casserole to make for a delicious meal.
• Skipjack tuna steak with Japanese-style sauce and garlic chips: This recipe requires cooks to pan sear the bonito, cover it with a soy sauce variation, and add garlic chips for flavor.
• Teriyaki glazed bonito with vinegared wakame salad: For this recipe, you’ll need to cover the bonito in a teriyaki glaze. Char-grill and serve it with a side of wakame and vinegar salad warmed to perfection.

What are bonito flakes?

While bonito is often used in Japanese cooking, bonito flakes are even more closely associated with regional cuisine.

Also called katsuobushi, the fish is dried, fermented, and smoked. Then pieces are shaved to add to dishes to provide a great umami flavor.

Bonito flakes are an interesting phenomenon. Because they’re so lightweight, the heat from the food on the plate can cause them to move around.

It is for this reason that many say the flakes dance. Therefore, they’re an interesting addition to cultural dishes.

Bonito flakes are commonly used in combination with dried kelp to make dashi, a broth that serves as the base for miso soups and other types of Japanese soups and sauces.

Following culinary purposes, it can also be used as:

• A stuffing for rice balls
• A topping for rice or noodles
• A seasoning for tofu
• A topping for takoyaki or okonomiyaki
• A seasoning for a century egg
• A topping for ramen
• A high protein treat for cats

Best bonito brands

Bonito can be bought fresh in grocery stores while bonito flakes can be purchased from retailers online and in brick-and-mortar locations.

If you’re looking for high-quality bonito flakes, here are a few brands to choose from.

Eden

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Eden sells bonito flakes that are imported from Japan. They’re aged and dried and have a rich, savory taste.

The brand recommends you try them in noodle broth with shiitake or in French onion soup.

Find Eden bonito flakes on Amazon

Yamaki

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Yamaki is the top seller of bonito flakes in Japan. Their product is low in fat and calories and high in protein, EPA, and DHA.

The flavor is rich and savory and makes for a great source of umami.

Find Yamaki bonito flakes on Amazon

Nishimoto

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This brand offers bonito flakes sold in individual 0.104 oz. packets. The portable packaging makes it easy to add to dishes and is serving-size friendly.

It’s a great option for take-out restaurants.

Find Nishimoto bonito flakes on Amazon

Ducky Duddle

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Ducky Duddle makes a unique offering selling a set that includes a bag of dried bonito flakes alongside a bag of dried seaweed.

This provides you with all you need to make great dashi. You can also use the products together or separately to flavor any number of dishes.

Find Ducky Duddle bonito flakes on Amazon

Kaneso

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Sold in 2 bags of 100g each, Kaneso offers bonito flakes that are extremely rich in flavor. They advertise their product as working well in a wide variety of dishes and they recommend it as a simple topping for rice.

Find Kaneso bonito flakes on Amazon

Bonito nutritional information

Bonito is a low-fat, high-protein fish that’s rich in omega-3s. Although it tastes like tuna, it doesn’t contain high mercury levels. It’s also high in potassium, vitamin B6, and magnesium.

Dried bonito broth is particularly recommended as a health food. It’s known to reduce fatigue and improve blood pressure.

It’s also been studied for its potential to reduce oxidative stress and lower blood pressure.

FAQs around bonito

Now that you know a bit about bonito, here are some FAQs that may answer any other questions you have.

Can you eat bonito raw?

Yes, you can eat bonito raw. However, the fish spoils easily, so it’s best to eat it when it’s very fresh.

What’s bonito in sushi?

Since bonito is similar to tuna, it can be eaten in sushi and many say it’s quite delicious in this application. However, since bonito can only be fished in summer and spring, it’s a rare treat.

Are bonito and skipjack the same?

Bonito has a similar color and taste to skipjack tuna and they’re often substituted for one another in recipes.

In fact, for canning purposes, bonito can be sold as skipjack. However, they’re 2 different fish.

Can you eat bonito skin?

No, bonito must be skinned before it’s eaten.

The bloodline must be removed as well. Bleeding it will improve the flavor dramatically.

How do you catch bonito?

Bonito fish aren’t easy to catch. They’re aggressive in nature and will fight back when baited.

If you choose to fish for bonito, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of having a successful outing. Here are some suggestions:

• Trolling: Trolling is a good way to catch a lot of bonito. To use this method, take a net and drag the ocean floor. That way, you’ll catch multiple schools.
• Line fishing: With this simple method, you can drop a line in the water and wait until you get a catch. Lines that are 4 – 8 feet will work best.
• Fishing rod: Most people use a fishing rod to fish, but they may not realize it takes some skill. The rod should be sturdy and flexible so that it holds up well when you’re battling with your prey.
• Other tips: Bonito will be most attracted to frozen fish, so it’s best to use these as bait. Chum, pilchards, and sardines are recommended, but you can experiment to find which works best in your location. Vary the bait’s position so it floats both at the bottom of the water and near the surface at times. This will make for optimal bonito catching.

Do bonito flakes expire?

Since bonito flakes are dried food, they last a long time. However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t have an expiration date.

In general, bonito flakes will last 6 to 12 months. However, it’s best to check the packaging to see when yours expire.

What can I use instead of bonito flakes?

If you’re making a recipe that calls for bonito flakes but you don’t have any on hand, shiitake mushrooms and kombu are both good substitutes. They’re often used in meals as a vegetarian alternative.

Also read: these are the best vegan substitutes to make dashi without bonito

Can you freeze bonito?

Bonito won’t freeze well raw; it’ll get soft and mushy. However, if you freeze bonito after it’s been cooked, it can last for up to a year.

What do bonito fish look like?

Bonito fish are fast predators that can be found all over the world. They have striped backs and silver bellies, and can grow to about 75 cm (30 inches).

Like tuna, they have a streamlined shape with a narrow tail base and a forked tail. They also have a row of small finlets behind their dorsal and anal fins.

Are bonito flakes gluten-free?

A gluten-free diet excludes foods that contain gluten such as proteins found in wheat, as well as barley, oats, and rye. Bonito flakes are free of gluten and are, therefore, approved for gluten-free diets.

Is bonito halal?

A halal diet consists of foods that Muslims consider safe to eat. These foods are ones that aren’t considered harmful to their bodies.

Although halal diets usually exclude the consumption of animals, there are certain fish that are considered halal. Bonito is among them.

Is bonito keto?

The keto diet calls for low-carb foods and a good amount of healthy fats. Bonito is low carb and rich in healthy fats, so it’s ideal for a keto diet.

Is bonito vegetarian?

There are some gray areas concerning what a vegetarian can and can’t eat.

However, the consumption of dead animals is never considered vegetarian. Therefore, bonito and other fish are included in the list of things that aren’t considered vegetarian.

Are bonito flakes kosher?

It’s acceptable to make bonito in kosher kitchens. However, the flakes aren’t certified kosher.

Kosher dieters who wish to make recipes that call for bonito will usually substitute the flakes for whitefish.

Do bonito flakes contain MSG?

MSG is monosodium glutamate, which is commonly used to give Asian dishes an umami flavor. Many say it can cause damage to nerve cells; however, this has never been proven.

Others say it’s caused adverse reactions, such as headaches and digestive issues.

In any case, you don’t have to worry about the possibility of an adverse reaction when eating bonito or bonito flakes. They’re both MSG-free.

In fact, bonito flakes are often used in dishes instead of MSG to provide an umami flavor without any possible harmful side effects1

What do bonito fish eat?

Bonito fish eat a diet of mackerel, menhaden, alewives, silversides, sand lances, squid, and other fish.

What is Atlantic bonito?

Atlantic bonito is bonito fish found in the shallow waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Dead Sea.

What’s the difference between bonito and bonita?

At first, one might think these are simply the masculine and feminine forms of the word “bonito” in the Spanish language. While that may be true, they also refer to 2 different types of fish!

Bonita is also called false albacore or little tuna. It resembles bonito, but it’s smaller.

Many consider it to be a trash fish because it has a stronger taste than other tunas and is often used as bait for shark.

However, it’s commercially important in the West Indies where it’s sold in frozen, fresh, dried, and canned varieties.

Enjoy bonito flakes

Now that you know all there is to know about bonito, will you be adding this fish to your recipes? Whether you eat it fresh or dried, it’s sure to add tasty flavors to your dishes!

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.