Flake (Surimi)

Flake is made from surimi, a processed white-fish product with a smooth, slightly elastic texture and a mild, savoury flavour. Often referred to as 'imitation' seafood, surimi is actually made with real fish, usually sustainably caught wild Alaska pollock.

While surimi isn’t something we talk about much in the UK, it’s widely used and well understood around the world and is valued for its consistency, versatility, high protein and low calorie content rather than for being 'natural' or traditional.

You may already recognise it from crab sticks, seafood salads and sushi (it's a key ingredient in California Rolls!). Flake is simply the same product in a loose, irregular form rather than moulded into sticks.

THE HISTORY OF SURIMI
Surimi was created by Japanese chefs in the 12th century who would grind and salt leftover fish as a means of preserving their extra catch. In the 1960s, a Japanese chemist discovered that he could stabilize the product, freeze it, and preserve its shelf life. Hugely popular in Japan, South Korea, France, Thailand, and Spain, surimi can be flavored and molded to resemble a variety of seafood the most popular being 'crab sticks' - developed to replace the highly valued king crab thigh meat