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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Among the many authentic flavors of Japan, tsukemono, or pickled vegetables, has been a must for everyday meals and with tea. For most of the Japanese nothing can replace enjoying plain hot rice with tsukemono, and dinner is not complete without it as the final course. Today most dishes are available at Japanese grocery stores or specialty supermarkets, but they often lack the seasonal quality and freshness of true tsukemono. The term tsukemono covers a wide range of dishes from a marinated salad to preserved foods. Traditional tsukemono such as takuan or umeboshi might seem difficult to prepare but Quick & Easy Tsukemono makes these and many more, easy with its simple step-by-step, full-color photo instructions. There are myriads of methods to make them, some as simple as just rubbing fruits and vegetables with salt just before serving, while other require several days to fully marinate. Packed with over 73 mouthwatering recipes for easily preserving fruits and vegetables, Quick & Easy Tsukemono is the perfect book for beginning cooks and seasoned foodies alike.