Description
Asazuke, or Japanese lightly pickled vegetables, is a vibrant and refreshing culinary delight that brings color and crunch to any meal. This quick recipe allows you to prepare a diverse array of fresh vegetables, all beautifully pickled in just one hour. The balance of tangy flavor with an umami twist enhances the natural taste of the veggies, making Asazuke perfect as a side dish, topping for rice bowls, or a light snack on its own. With minimal prep time and the flexibility to customize ingredients, you’ll find yourself reaching for this recipe time and again.
Ingredients
- 4 leaves napa cabbage (11 oz, 300 g; or use green cabbage)
- 2 inches daikon radish (6 oz, 170 g; or use turnips or cauliflower)
- 1 Japanese or Persian cucumber (4.5 oz, 128 g)
- ½ watermelon radish (3.5 oz, 100 g; or use red radish)
- ⅓ carrot (1.6 oz, 45 g)
- Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 piece kombu (dried kelp) (1 x 2 inches or 2.5 x 5 cm per piece)
- 5 shiso leaves (perilla/ooba) (optional but recommended)
- Toasted sesame oil (for drizzling)
- Toasted white sesame seeds (for sprinkling)
- Yuzu zest (optional)
Instructions
- Gather and weigh all ingredients accurately.
- Chop vegetables into bite-sized pieces using a sharp knife.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped vegetables with kosher salt and sugar until well-coated.
- Add kombu to the mixture for enhanced flavor.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for at least one hour or refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor.
- Serve chilled as a side dish or snack.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Pickling
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 25
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Feel free to experiment with seasonal vegetables or add herbs for unique flavors. Adjust pickling time based on your taste preference—shorter for lighter flavor and longer for more intense tartness.