I almost always serve a small side dish of Japanese pickles called tsukemono (漬物) when we eat washoku (和食), a traditional Japanese meal with rice and miso soup. I often serve homemade quick pickles that take just a couple of hours to make. When I make my own vegetable tsukemono, I know it’s fresh and I absolutely love the crispy texture and clean flavor. Today, I’m sharing a quick and easy Japanese Pickled Cabbage (キャベツの浅漬け) that I think you’ll enjoy. Read on to learn how to make this fast and simple recipe with just a few ingredients.
What is Tsukemono?
Tsukemono (漬物) translates to “pickled things.” They are Japanese preserved vegetables that are usually pickled in salt, brine, or a bed of rice bran called nuka. In Japan, all types of tsukemono are available at grocery and specialty stores. During a meal, tsukemono cleanses the palate and provides a refreshing taste to counter the other flavorful dishes. It also offers color, texture, and aroma to a meal. In fact, it is sometimes also called kounomono (“kho-no-mono,” 香の物) or “fragrant things.”
Asazuke – Homemade Quick Pickles
At home, many people make pickles using the asazuke (浅漬け) or “shallow pickling” method. I serve this type of tsukemono with steamed rice and miso soup for my traditional Japanese meals. One of the easiest asazuke to make is shiozuke (塩漬け), or salt pickles. With shiozuke like today’s recipe, we first salt the vegetables, then weigh them down with a heavy object. The pressure causes the vegetables to release liquid and create a pickling brine with the salt. With just 10 minutes of prep time and a minimum of 2 hours fermentation time, shiozuke is a popular pickle for home cooks. Keep in mind that asazuke keeps for only 2–3 days because it’s pickled in a very small amount of salt that’s not enough to preserve it for a longer time.
How Much Salt To Add?
My general rule of thumb for asazuke is to add 2% to 2.5% of the vegetable’s weight in salt. Multiply the weight of the cabbage and cucumber by 0.02 for the right amount of salt to use. I highly encourage you to use a kitchen scale (I use a digital kitchen scale) so there’s no guessing. If you use Diamond Crystal kosher salt, 1 tablespoon is about 10 grams and 1 teaspoon is 3 grams.
Ingredients for Japanese Pickled Cabbage
green cabbage Japanese or Persian cucumber dried red chili pepper – optional; remove the seeds for less heat piece of kombu (dried kelp) Diamond Crystal kosher salt toasted white sesame seeds – optional, for serving soy sauce – optional, for serving
Variations and Substitutions
There are quite a few ingredient options for shiozuke quick pickles. Here are some of my favorite vegetables to use (click to see my recipes):
napa cabbage cucumbers eggplants daikon radish turnips gobo (burdock root) carrots ginger
How To Make Japanese Pickled Cabbage
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight jar or other container and store in the fridge for up to 2–3 days.
Other Japanese Pickles You’ll Love
There are a variety of pickling methods we use in Japanese cooking, each with a distinct flavor. I hope that you give these Japanese tsukemono a try!
Shiozuke (塩漬け) – salt pickles Amazuzuke (甘酢漬け) – vinegar and sugar pickles Misozuke (味噌漬け) – miso pickles Shoyuzuke (醤油漬け) – soy sauce pickles Kasuzuke (粕漬け) – sake kasu (lees) pickles Shiokojizuke (塩麹) – rice koji (mold-cultured rice) pickles
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