Asazuke (Japanese Lightly Pickled Vegetables)
Asazuke, or Japanese lightly pickled vegetables, is a vibrant and refreshing side dish that’s perfect for any meal. With its colorful mix of fresh vegetables such as napa cabbage, daikon radish, and cucumbers, this quick pickle brings an exciting crunch to your plate. The preparation takes just 15 minutes, and with only an hour of pickling time, Asazuke makes a great addition to busy weeknight dinners or casual gatherings. Enhance the flavor with optional ingredients like shiso leaves or yuzu zest for a burst of freshness that truly captures the essence of Japanese cuisine. Not only is this dish easy to customize based on what you have at home, but it’s also low in calories and high in nutrients—making it a guilt-free choice for anyone looking to add healthy options to their meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Pickling
- Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients
- 4 leaves napa cabbage
- 2 inches daikon radish
- 1 Japanese or Persian cucumber
- ½ watermelon radish
- ⅓ carrot
- Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 piece kombu (dried kelp)
- 5 shiso leaves (optional)
- toasted sesame oil (for drizzling)
- toasted white sesame seeds (for sprinkling)
- yuzu zest (optional)
Instructions
- Wash all the vegetables thoroughly under running water.
- Chop the napa cabbage into bite-sized pieces.
- Peel the daikon radish and cut it into thin rounds.
- Slice the cucumber into thin half-moons.
- Cut the watermelon radish into thin rounds.
- Julienne the carrot into thin strips.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine kosher salt and sugar.
- Add water slowly while stirring until dissolved completely.
- Incorporate the piece of kombu into the mixture.
- Place all prepared vegetables into the brine mixture.
- Gently toss until all vegetables are well coated in the brine.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid.
- Allow it to sit at room temperature for at least one hour (or overnight in the refrigerator for deeper flavor).
- Once pickled, drain excess liquid if desired.
- Transfer to serving plates and drizzle with toasted sesame oil.
- Finish with a sprinkle of toasted white sesame seeds and optional yuzu zest.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup or approximately 55g
- Calories: 20
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 240mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg