Tsukemono: Kiku Kabura (Chrysanthemum Turnip)

Autumn is chrysanthemum season in Japan and the flower which has literally countless form, shape and color variations makes numerous appearances in Japanese cuisine, both as decoration and as symbol. This meibutsu tsukmono is from Kamekura a shinise in Kameoka, a small and quaint town west of Kyoto. Kamekura is perhaps best known for its senmaizuke, a Kyoto winter favorite…
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Nukazuke Report: Nanohana Nukazuke

Nanohana (Rape Blossom) Nukazuke 菜の花ぬか漬け Nanohana (Rape Blossom) Nukazuke 菜の花ぬか漬け
Homemade nukazuke is turning out to be one of my all time favorite foodie discoveries! I cannot stop! I have been pickling springtime vegetables like kokabura (baby turnip), uri and nanohana (rape blossom) in my nuka pot the last few weeks and having great fun.…
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Nukazuke Report: Uri Nukazuke Onigiri

Nukazuke Report: Uri Nukazuke Onigiri Nukazuke Report: Uri Nukazuke Onigiri
Itadakimono: Early spring is the time to enjoy uri, a cucumber-like gourd that is in season here for just a few weeks. The only way I know to eat this vegetable is as tsukemono. In March and April, I often go to Nishiri to buy their uri that is simply and lightly pickled…
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How to Make Nukazuke: Pickling Vegetables

How to Make Nukazuke: Pickling Hinona Turnips 日野菜蕪 ぬか漬け How to Make Nukazuke: Pickling Hinona Turnips 日野菜かぶ ぬか漬け
Nukazuke Report: Our nukadoko pickling bed started to get pungent, I knew it was time to pickle our first vegetables. I chose hinona, a traditional vegetable from neighboring Shiga prefecture. It is a very long and narrow turnip.…
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