Zoni

Zōni (雑煮 or ぞうに), also often called o-zōni, is a Japanese soup containing mochi rice cakes. It is traditionally eaten on New Year's Day. Tofu, potato, chicken, kamaboko (boiled fish paste) and other ingredients are often added to the soup. This soup is made from kombu (kelp), katsuo (bonito fish) or niboshi (dried small sardines). There are two kinds of rice cake, round and square. The recipe depends on homes and regions.

History
The tradition of eating zōni on New Year's Day began at the end of the Japanese Muromachi period (1336–1573). People eat it praying to Toshigami (the New Year God) for a happy year.

The word Zōni is written in the Japanese language using two kanji characters. Since the first, 雑 means "miscellaneous" or "mixed", and the second, 煮, means "simmer" or "boil", it is thought that the name comes from the fact that zōni is made with a mix of many items of food (such as mochi, vegetables and seafood) being boiled together.

References
 www.gogen-allguide.com
 www.cookpad.com

Category:Soups
Category:Japanese food