Speed, speed, speed. Although Japanese cooking enthusiasts know that some pickles can be made very quickly, there are many more that take three days to many months. Every recipe in this book can be made in five minutes to one day about 80 persent of the recipes can be made in less than an hour. No pickling pot required! In any other tsukemono book, the first page describes the variety of pickling pots available, some with rock weights, others with spring-loaded lids. In this book, the first page shows how to use plastic bags, paper towels, and ordinary mixing bowls for fabulous results. Book jacket.

One of the best-kept secrets of Japanese cuisine is a range of side dishes known as tsukemono (つけもの, 漬物). The word, pronounced ‘tskay-moh-noh,’ means ‘something that has been steeped or marinated’ (tsuke—steeped; mono—things). Although tsukemono are usually made from vegetables, some fruits, flowers, and a few rhizomes are also preserved this way; it is, therefore, more accurate to characterize them as ‘pickled foods.’ Their preparation makes use of one or more conservation techniques, involving ingredients such as salt, sugar, vinegar, alcohol, and herbs, in combination with methods including dehydration, marinating in salt and acidic liquids, fermentation, and curing. The process of making tsukemono amounts to more than just a simple way of preserving otherwise perishable fresh produce. Apart from its nutritional value, the dish stimulates the appetite, provides delicious taste sensations, and improves digestion, all while remaining an elegant study in simplicity and esthetic presentation. This book goes well beyond explaining the secrets of making crisp tsukemono. The authors discuss the cultural history and traditions associated with these pickled foods; provide recipes and outline techniques for preparing them at home with local ingredients; describe the healthful benefits and basic nutritional value to be found in the various types of pickles; and show how easy it is to serve them on a daily basis to stimulate the appetite or as condiments to accompany vegetable, fish, and meat dishes. The goal is to encourage the readers of this book to join us in a small culinary adventure that will allow us to expand and diversify our consumption of plant-based foods, which are so vital to our overall well-being. And along the way, there may be a few surprises.

This beautifully illustrated guide by the author of Japanese Farm Food includes essential Japanese pantry tips and 125 recipes. In Preserving the Japanese Way, Nancy Singleton Hachisu offers step-by-step instructions for preserving fruits, vegetables, and fish using the age-old methods of Japanese farmers and fishermen. The recipes feature ingredients easily found in grocery stores or Asian food markets, such as soy sauce, rice vinegar, sake, and koji. Recipes range from the ultratraditional— Umeboshi (Salted Sour Plums), Takuan (Half-Dried Daikon Pickled in Rice Bran), and Hakusai (Fermented Napa Cabbage)— to modern creations like Zucchini Pickled in Shoyu Koji, Turnips Pickled with Sour Plums, and Small Melons in Sake Lees. Hundreds of full-color photos offer a window into the culinary life of Japan, from barrel makers and fish sauce producers to traditional morning pickle markets. More than a simple recipe book, Preserving the Japanese Way is a book about community, seasonality, and ultimately about why both are relevant in our lives today. “This is a gorgeous, thoughtful—dare I say spiritual—guide to the world of Japanese pickling written with clarity and a deep respect for technique and tradition.” —Rick Bayless, author of Authentic Mexican and owner of Frontera Grill

Easy recipes for making pickles and fermented foods from all over Asia Whether you're a first-time fermenter or a pickling pro, it's never been easier to create flavorful Asian pickles from the comfort of your own kitchen. Asian Pickles at Home is packed with straightforward guidance and delicious recipes for fast and fresh pickles, chutneys and sauces, kimchi, and other fermented foods from Japan, China, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia. This guide to Asian pickling includes: A pickling primer—Learn all about the history and process of fermentation, the health benefits of pickles, using the right ingredients, and how to outfit your kitchen for pickling success. Your pickling passport—Explore what makes each country's pickles and pickling techniques unique, and get detailed instructions for canning and fermenting Asian pickles. Simple recipes—Discover uncomplicated recipes that require only easy-to-find ingredients and basic techniques to create the complex flavor profiles you know and love. Master the art of Asian pickles from around the globe with this essential pickling book.

A DIY guide to making the tangy pickles of India, featuring recipes ranging from traditional chutney and achar to new combinations using innovative ingredients and techniques. For Asian food aficionados as well as preservers and picklers looking for new frontiers, India's diverse and sometimes spicy array of pickled products and innovative flavor pairings will wow the palate. In Asian Pickles: India, respected cookbook author and culinary project maven Karen Solomon introduces readers to the unique ingredients used in Indian pickle-making, and numerous techniques beyond the basic brine. For the novice pickler, Solomon also includes a vast array of quick pickles with easy-to-find ingredients. Featuring 15 of the most sought-after Indian pickle recipes--including Coconut-Mint Chutney, Sour Mango Pickle, Cauliflower Pickle, and more--Asian Pickles: India will help you explore a new preserving horizon with fail-proof instructions and a selection of helpful resources.

From authentic Korean kimchi, Indian chutney, and Japanese tsukemono to innovative combinations ranging from mild to delightfully spicy, the time-honored traditions of Asian pickling are made simple and accessible in this DIY guide. Asian Pickles introduces the unique ingredients and techniques used in Asian pickle-making, including a vast array of quick pickles for the novice pickler, and numerous techniques that take more adventurous cooks beyond the basic brine. With fail-proof instructions, a selection of helpful resources, and more than seventy-five of the most sought-after pickle recipes from the East—Korean Whole Leaf Cabbage Kimchi, Japanese Umeboshi, Chinese Preserved Vegetable, Indian Coconut-Cilantro Chutney, Vietnamese Daikon and Carrot Pickle, and more—Asian Pickles is your passport to explore this region’s preserving possibilities.

Enjoy healthy and delicious Japanese pickles with the help of a leading Japanese food expert! Homemade Japanese pickles are incredibly tasty and easy to make, and have numerous gut health and digestion benefits. This amazing book shows you how to make your own Japanese-style pickles at home using fresh vegetables from your garden or local farmers' market--and how to incorporate them into delicious Japanese homestyle meals. Author Takako Yokoyama provides 76 pickling recipes grouped into three chapters: Chapter One: Quick pickles that are ready to eat immediately--like Spicy Eggplant Pickles, Cabbage and Garlic Pickled in Soy Sauce, and Tomatoes Seasoned in Sake Rice Wine Chapter Two: Classic Japanese pickling recipes--such as Umeboshi Preserved Plums, Napa Cabbage Kimchi, and Daikon Radish Pickled in Miso Chapter Three: Seasonal pickles--including Spring Parsley and Butterbur Pickles, Mixed Summer Vegetable Pickles and Winter Beets Pickled in Honey Yokoyama also presents 21 enticing recipes for meals that incorporate the pickles you make--like Sushi Rolls with Pickled Cabbage and Tofu Hotpot and Onion Salad with Fermented Soybean Dressing. With commonly asked questions, clear step-by-step instructions, beautiful color photos, and information about the health benefits of pickles, this is an ideal resource for home cooks who want to try their hand at pickling, plant-based eating, or expanding their go-to recipe list.

This addition to the Global Kitchen series explores the cuisine of Japan, from culinary history and important ingredients to essential daily and special meals. When we think of Japanese food in the United States, certain images come to mind: sushi, ramen, and hibachi restaurants. But what is food like in this island nation? What do people eat and drink every day? Are food concerns similar to those in the United States, where obesity is a major issue? This volume offers comprehensive coverage on the cuisine of Japan. Readers will learn about the history of food in the country, influential ingredients that play an important role in daily cooking and consumption, meals and dishes for every occasion, and what food is like when dining out or stopping for snacks from street vendors. An additional chapter examines food issues and dietary concerns. Recipes accompany every chapter. A chronology, glossary, sidebars, and bibliography round out the work.

Americans are familiarizing themselves with Japanese food, thanks especially sushi's wild popularity and ready availability. This timely book satisfies the new interest and taste for Japanese food, providing a host of knowledge on the foodstuffs, cooking styles, utensils, aesthetics, meals, etiquette, nutrition, and much more. Students and general readers are offered a holistic framing of the food in historical and cultural contexts. Recipes for both the novice and sophisticated cook complement the narrative. Japan's unique attitude toward food extends from the religious to the seasonal. This book offers a contextual framework for the Japanese food culture and relates Japan's history and geography to food. An exhaustive description of ingredients, beverages, sweets, and food sources is a boon to anyone exploring Japanese cuisine in the kitchen. The Japanese style of cooking, typical meals, holiday fare, and rituals—so different from Americans'—are engagingly presented and accessible to a wide audience. A timeline, glossary, resource guide, and illustrations make this a one-stop reference for Japanese food culture.