noun
ring-shaped baked wheat gluten (Niigata specialty)
A local food product from Niigata Prefecture. Made by baking wheat gluten (fu) into a cylindrical shape and slicing it into rings, resembling a wheel (車). Often used in simmered dishes.
新潟の名物、車麩をお土産に買った。
I bought some kuruma-bu, a Niigata specialty, as a souvenir.
車麩は煮物にすると味がよくしみる。
Kuruma-bu absorbs flavors well when simmered.
麩 is the general term for wheat gluten, while 車麩 specifically refers to the ring-shaped baked variety from Niigata.
Compound of 車 (wheel) and 麩 (wheat gluten), referring to the wheel-like ring shape of the baked gluten slices.