Easy Japanese Pickle

Pickling cucumbers are back in season, and when I saw them next to some garlic in my CSA, I knew just what to make! This recipe takes about 10 minutes to prepare and has only six ingredients:

Ingredients:

12 cucumbers,

2 cloves of garlic,

1 Tbsp salt,

1/2 cup of mirin,

1/2 cup of rice vinegar,

2” square of kombu

To prepare, simply wash and slice the cucumbers, smash and peel the garlic, then mix both in a bowl with the salt until dissolved. In a 1 quart jar, mix the mirin and vinegar, then add the cucumber mix and liquid on top. Top with the square of kombu, shake well, and store upside down in the fridge overnight.

A nice balance of crunchy, sweet, salty, sour, and umami makes these pickles a great companion to all kinds of food - or snack right out the jar!

Alex Dakers

Chef / Owner, Yabai Nikkei