Ninjin Shirishiri: Japanese Stir-Fried Carrots and Tuna Recipe

Ninjin shirishiri（人参しりしり）

🥕What kind of dish is Ninjin shirishiri?

With just three main ingredients and 10 minutes of your time, you can create this “super side dish.” It’s an incredibly easy, nutrition-packed recipe that transforms the humble carrot into a gourmet delight.

The Name: “Ninjin” means carrot. “Shirishiri” is an Okinawan dialect word—an onomatopoeia for the sound of shredding vegetables on a grater.

Origin: Ninjin Shirishiri is a traditional Okinawan stir-fry made with thinly shredded carrots and savory canned tuna. It is simple, healthy, and visually vibrant.

🌟 Why This Dish is a Must-Try

A Nutritional Powerhouse: Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which protects eye and skin health and provides antioxidant benefits.
Science-Backed Cooking: Beta-carotene is fat-soluble. Stir-frying with oil increases absorption and masks the earthy bitterness of raw carrots, making them sweet and tender.
Protein Boost: The addition of tuna and eggs makes this a balanced, protein-rich side dish.
The Secret is in the Oil: Using the oil from the canned tuna (Aburazuke) aids nutrient absorption and adds deep umami flavor, allowing you to minimize additional seasonings.

🏝️Craving more Okinawan flavors? Goya Champuru (Bitter Melon and Spam Stir-fry) is another iconic local dish that is just as popular as Ninjin Shirishiri. Check out the recipe here! [👉　Goya champuru recipe (Bitter melon and spam stir fry)]

What is Mentsuyu?

Mentsuyu is a versatile, all-in-one Japanese seasoning base that is essential in Japanese households. It features a perfect balance of soy sauce, mirin, sake, and dashi (soup stock made from bonito flakes or kelp).

Mentsuyu comes in various concentrations, such as “Straight” (use as-is), “2x Concentrated,” and “3x Concentrated.”

The mentsuyu used in this recipe is 2x concentrated (7.2g salt per 100ml).

1. How to Use Mentsuyu

Noodle Dishes: This is the most traditional use. Simply dilute the sauce with hot or cold water according to the concentration instructions on the bottle.
Simmering and Steeping (Niru & Hitusu)
- Simmered Dishes: You can easily perfect the flavor of dishes like Nikujaga (meat and potato stew) or Gyudon (beef bowl) just by using Mentsuyu.
- Steeping: Simply soaking deep-fried eggplant in Mentsuyu creates an elegant side dish (Agebitashi).
TKG and Natto Rice
- Using Mentsuyu instead of regular soy sauce for Tamago Kake Gohan (egg over rice) or Natto rice adds a subtle sweetness and a richer, more premium flavor.

💡 Pro-Tip Think of Mentsuyu as a “sweetened soy sauce infused with dashi broth.” Recognizing it this way makes it much easier to use in various recipes!

2. Homemade Substitute (If you don’t have Mentsuyu)

If you cannot find Mentsuyu, you can create a substitute by mixing the following ingredients:

Light Soy Sauce: 30g (Point: Use “Light Soy Sauce” (Usukuchi) to keep the colors vibrant. Using regular dark soy sauce will discolor the carrots and eggs, making them look dark or dull.)
Mirin: 30g
Sake: 30g
Dashi Stock (Powder): 2g

📊 Nutrition Facts : Ninjin Shirishiri (Stir-Fried Carrots With Tuna)

Total (Whole Recipe / 5 Servings):

Calories: 670 kcal
Protein: 51.3g
Total Fat: 37.8g
Total Carbohydrates: 37.2g
Sodium: 7.2g

Per Serving:

Calories: 134 kcal
Protein: 10.3g
Total Fat: 7.6g
Total Carbohydrates: 7.4g
Sodium: 1.4g

🛒 Ingredients (5SERVINGS) : Ninjin Shirishiri (Stir-Fried Carrots With Tuna)

Carrots: 260g
Eggs: 2 large
Canned Tuna (in oil): 140g
- Tip: Using “Aburazuke” (tuna in oil) provides a richer flavor.
Water: 100g
Mentsuyu (2x Concentrated): 80g
- Note: This recipe uses mentsuyu with 7.2g salt per 100ml.
Sesame Oil: 4g
Roasted Sesame Seeds: 10g

🍳How to make Ninjin Shirishiri (Stir-Fried Carrots With Tuna)

How to make carrot shirishiri

Prepare the Eggs: Beat the eggs, fry them in sesame oil to scramble, then remove from the pan and set aside. (This keeps the yellow color bright!)
Shred the Carrots: Slice carrots into 2mm shreds.
Sauté: Briefly fry the carrots and tuna over medium heat.
Simmer: Add water and boil until the carrots are soft. Add the mentsuyu and simmer until the liquid evaporates.
Finish: Turn off the heat and mix in the scrambled eggs and sesame seeds.

📖Related Link: Read the Japanese version of this article here! [にんじんしりしり（ツナとにんじんの炒め物）]

naokoan

Hi, I’m Naoko! I am a licensed Registered Dietitian in Japan, currently working in a hospital setting. My daily mission is to provide nutritious, healing meals to patients, ensuring that every dish supports their health and brings a smile to their face. My recipes are more than just cooking guides—they are built on scientific nutritional balance and clinical experience. Why I provide ingredients in grams (g): You might notice that all my recipes use precise gram measurements. This is because, as a dietitian, I believe that accuracy is the key to true health management. Whether you are tracking calories, managing salt intake, or simply want to recreate the exact flavor of a professional hospital kitchen, these measurements ensure your success and well-being. My Specialty: I specialize in high-pressure cooking and oven recipes that save time without sacrificing nutrition. My goal is to introduce the world to “Real Japanese Home Cooking”—dishes that are simple, budget-friendly, and body-friendly. I’m thrilled to share the wisdom of Japanese nutrition with you. Let’s cook our way to a healthier life!