“Fuguno-ransou (pufferfish ovary)” is deadly poisonous, and is illegal to be eaten. However, it is allowed to be sold and consumed in some areas of Japan after it is detoxified in a special way
Fugu (puffer fish) is infamous for its strong poison, tetrodotoxin. The organs that contain the poison are vary according to the species. The flesh of this fish is eatable when it is prepared and cooked by a person who has a special license. The ovary of this fish is well known for being poisonous ,and so it is not allowed to provided for usual consumption.
However, in three areas in Ishikawa prefecture, the ovaries are allowed to be provided for consumption. After being soaked in salted water and rice bran for a few years, the poison dissipates so much that the fish become almost harmless to the human body. It is called “fuguno-ransou-no-kasuzuke (pickling in sake lees).” It is sliced, roasted and eaten as a side dish with sake. It has a salty, creamy taste, and granular crisp texture. It is exciting but a bit uneasy to eat it even if you know that it doesn’t have the poison anymore.
