Japanese Natto Recipe | How To Make Japanese Natto? - Cultures For Health (2024)

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  • by Rosalinda Padilla
  • June 23, 2022
  • 3 min read

Japanese Natto Recipe | How To Make Japanese Natto? - Cultures For Health (1)


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Japanese natto is made by fermenting soybeans using a very specific spore that creates a nutty, delicious food that some might even call slimy. But if you've had it, you know that Japanese natto is slimy in the best possible way.


INGREDIENTS AND EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE AT CULTURES FOR HEALTH

Natto Starter

Japanese Natto Recipe | How To Make Japanese Natto? - Cultures For Health (5)

Natto Starter

$12.99

Use natto starter to make real Japanese natto at home! Ferment soybeans with these natto spores to make traditional natto or use nearly any bean of your choice.

Each pouch contains 4 packets of natto starter culture. Each packet yields 6 cups of natto.

BEFORE MAKING NATTO

  • Be sure the entire process, including all utensils, pots, cheesecloth, etc. are as sterile as possible. (Boil utensils for 5 minutes prior to using.)
  • The fermentation process requires thenatto starterto be kept at approximately 100 - 105 F degrees for 22 to 24 hours. Ovens with a low-temperature setting can be used, as can large cube-shaped food dehydrators.
  • Natto sporesare quite odorous while fermenting, and you may want to isolate the natto during the fermentation time.

Download all ourLacto-Fermentation Recipe Booktoday and start cooking excellent meals for your friends and family! Learn how to make your own delicious and healthy Japanese Natto Recipe!

JAPANESE NATTO SUPPLIES:

  • Aluminum foil
  • Non-reactive pot (i.e., stainless steel, enameled, etc.)
  • Large stainless steel spoon
  • Colander
  • Casserole dish

INGREDIENTS FOR JAPANESE NATTO RECIPE:

  • 2 cups soybeans
  • 3 Tbs. water, boiled for 5 to 10 minutes to sterilize
  • 1 packetNatto Starter Culture

INSTRUCTIONS FOR NATTO RECIPE:

  1. Wash the soybeans and soak in 6 cups of water for 9 to 12 hours (longer soaking time recommended for colder months) to get them ready for fermentation.

    Japanese Natto Recipe | How To Make Japanese Natto? - Cultures For Health (6)

  2. Drain the soybeans from the soaking water. Place beans in a large pot, fill with water and boil for 2-3 hours, checking every half hour or so. You want them to be tender but not mushy so that the spores have plenty of moisture for fermentation, but the final result is still firmly textured.

    Japanese Natto Recipe | How To Make Japanese Natto? - Cultures For Health (7)

  3. Rinse or dunk a colander, cooking spoon, and casserole dish with boiling water to sterilize. We want to make sure that only the right organisms thrive in our fermented soybeans!
  4. In the sterilized colander, drain the cooked beans and place in the sterilized casserole dish. Turn oven light on so it preheats to 100 degrees F.
  5. Stir in thenatto powderwith 3 Tbs. boiled and cooled (for sterilization) water. While the beans are still warm, pour the natto spore packet over the beans. Stir the beans carefully using the sterilized spoon.
  6. Spread the beans in a ~1 inch layer in the casserole dish. If at any point in the process the beans spill on the counter, etc., discard those beans to prevent contamination. It's critical to maintain the purity of our ferment for the best final product.
  7. Tightly cover the casseroled dish with aluminum foil. Poke pin holes in the foil, placed 1" apart. The natto spores need a little oxygen and darkness for idea growing conditions.

    Japanese Natto Recipe | How To Make Japanese Natto? - Cultures For Health (8)

  8. Place the covered casserole dish in the oven, dehydrator, or other warmer and allow the natto to ferment for 22 to 24 hours, being sure to keep the temperature at a steady 100 degrees F. When you see a whitish film and smell an ammonia-like aroma coming from the beans, that's how you know they're done fermenting.

    Japanese Natto Recipe | How To Make Japanese Natto? - Cultures For Health (9)

  9. When finished, let the Japanese natto cool at room temperature for 2 hours. Remove aluminum foil and store in covered containers in the refrigerator at least overnight for best flavor and stringiness. Your natto will last for about a week in the refrigerator.

Smaller portions of finished natto can be stored in the freezer and thawed for later use.

MAKING NATTO RECIPEAT HOME

Cultures for Health is here to make your natto fermenting journey as easy as possible. We have plenty of information about fermenting soybeans, and we havequality natto sporesyou can get today.

OurNatto Sporesallow you to make authentic Japanese natto at home! You can ferment soybeans with these spores to make traditional natto or use nearly any bean of your choice for some really interesting custom natto experiences!

Click here to get your hand on our incredible Natto Spores and start making your own food now!

Want to start making yourJapanese Natto at home?Download all our Cookbooks today to get started!

Ready to Learn More?

  • Simple Natto Sauce
  • Kimchi Natto
  • Natto FAQ
  • All About Fermenting Soy

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Japanese Natto Recipe | How To Make Japanese Natto? - Cultures For Health (2024)

FAQs

How do you get nattokinase naturally? ›

Natto is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, but most of the food's health benefits are tied to its powerful nattokinase enzyme. Natto is the only food source of nattokinase, but you can also buy it as a supplement.

How long does homemade natto last? ›

Make-Ahead and Storage

Natto will keep for 2-3 weeks in the fridge, but will get more pungent with time.

Is Japanese natto good for health? ›

In 2020, the National Cancer Center announced that high consumption of natto lowers mortality risk. Natto not only activates the immune system, but also contains a significant amount of vitamin K2, which can suppress brain inflammation, while the substance responsible for its stickiness lowers blood sugar levels.

What are the negative side effects of nattokinase? ›

Bleeding disorders: Nattokinase seems to act like a blood thinner and might make bleeding disorders worse. Use with caution. Surgery: Nattokinase might increase the chance of bleeding during or after surgery. It might also make blood pressure difficult to control during surgery.

What is the best source of nattokinase? ›

Although plenty of other fermented soy foods boast a long list of health benefits, natto is the only soy product that contains nattokinase.

How to make natto without starter? ›

When you mix the packaged natto with cooked soybeans, the live bacteria will multiply and ferment the soybeans, resulting in a new batch of natto. This method of using packaged natto as a starter is a convenient way to make natto at home without having to purchase a separate starter.

Why does my natto taste bitter? ›

As fermentation progresses, crystallized amino acid called tyrosine which looks like white granules might appear. This is not harmful, but it may cause a crunchy texture and a bitter taste, and the fermentation process may have progressed to the point where the original flavor is lost.

Is frozen natto still healthy? ›

Is it okay to freeze natto? You can freeze natto, but we try to discourage it, since natto is tastiest and healthiest when fresh and unfrozen. This is because freeze-thawing disrupts the active (“vegetative”) cells of the living B. subtilis culture.

Is it better to eat natto in the morning or night? ›

Also, natto is good to be eaten at night because blood clots are more likely to form at night. Eating natto at night can help to avoid you from having blood clots. Natto is an excellent healthy food that contains various healthy ingredients and is easy to eat.

How many packs of natto can you eat a day? ›

There is no set recommendation for how much natto you should eat in a day, but studies suggest that 100 to 200 milligrams of nattokinase is a safe and effective dose. This would be equivalent to eating about 1 package of natto per day.

What are the best beans for natto? ›

Natto is purported to be one of the most healthful forms of fermented soybeans. But, soybeans are not the only legumes you can make natto from. With just two pounds of rinsed organic, dry black beans ready for an overnight soaking, you too can get started making your own black bean natto.

Can natto clear arteries? ›

In addition, nattokinase, the primary active enzyme in natto, has been shown to inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis15. Thus, it is unequivocal that natto has anti-atherosclerotic effects.

Who should not eat natto? ›

Natto may not be suitable for some people. As natto is made from soybeans, people with soy allergies or intolerances should not consume natto. In addition, soy is also considered a goitrogen and may not be suitable for people with hypothyroidism. Another consideration is that natto has anticoagulant properties.

Why eat natto at night? ›

Choline and probiotics abundant in natto work to maintain cell membranes, and reduce chronic inflammation very effectively. Therefore, eating natto at night before bed will help our brain circulation work better, sleep deeper and better, and make the mind and body refreshed after waking up.

What is nattokinase found in? ›

Natto, a fermented soybean product, has been consumed as a traditional food in Japan for thousands of years. Nattokinase (NK), a potent blood-clot dissolving protein used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, is produced by the bacterium Bacillus subtilis during the fermentation of soybeans to produce Natto.

Does nattokinase remove plaque from arteries? ›

In this way, nattokinase has been shown in animal and human studies to reduce blood clotting and build-up of plaque in the arteries.

Is nattokinase the same as vitamin K2? ›

While Vitamin K2 is more involved in calcium regulation, Nattokinase primarily focuses on circulation, making them complementary in their potential contributions to overall heart health.

What is another name for nattokinase? ›

Other Name(s): BSP, Extrait de Natto, Fermented Soybeans, Haricots de Soja Fermentés, Natto de Soja, Natto Extract, Nattokinasa, NK, Soy Natto, Subtilisin NAT.

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