Tsukemono: Aka Kabura Nukazuke from Nishiki Market

Nukazuke: Japanese Rice Bran Fermented Pickles 京漬物 錦・高倉屋 Tsukemono: Aka Kabura Nukazuke from Nishiki Market 京漬物 錦・高倉屋
Meet nukazuke, a traditional Japanese tsukemono that is fermented in rice bran with a bit of salt. Nukazuke is full of vitamins and can be extremely pungent. Most any kind of vegetable can be used, even meat can be pickled by this method! It is easy to make at home and…
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Itadakimono: Kumiage Yuba and Yuba Donburi

Kumiage Yuba and Yuba Donburi 汲み上げ湯葉 湯葉どんぶり Kumiage Yuba and Yuba Donburi 汲み上げ湯葉 湯葉どんぶり
We were given a gift of kumiage yuba from a yuba company up in Otsu recently and made donburi with it on Peko’s famous rice. Simply flavored with soy sauce and wasabi, this is veg, healthy, and not just tasty, but creamy tasty! Have you heard of yuba?…
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Whole Ayu Sugatani on Jukkokumai Rice

Midnight Snack: Whole Ayu Sweetfish Sugatani Served on Jukkokumai Rice Midnight Snack: Whole Ayu Sweetfish Sugatani Served on Jukkokumai Rice 鮎姿煮 十穀米
The other day I was up in Shiga Prefecture, just over the East Mountains from Kyoto, on the shores of Lake Biwa and I was given a package of whole sugatani ayu, a trout-like sweetfish from Lake Biwa as a gift.…
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Shogatsu: Mochibana Japanese New Year Decoration

Mochibana Japanese New Year Shogatsu Decoration 餅花 Mochibana Japanese New Year Shogatsu Decoration 餅花
Mochibana is a Japanese New Year’s decoration that uses white and pink colored mochi wrapped around willow branches to simulate blossoms. Shogatsu signals the coming of spring in Japan, and spring is plum, peach and cherry blossoms. Why do people use mochi rather than real flowers?…
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Chazuke with Leftover Yakizakana

Chazuke with Leftover Yakizakana Chazuke with Leftover Yakizakana
Sprinkle some chopped leftover grilled fish on rice, pour on some hot tea and you’ve got chazuke, a quick meal that has been eaten in Japan for more than 1,000 years.…
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