Tsukemono - Misozuke (Miso Pickling)

Daikon Radish Pickled (called Takuan in Japanese) is a perfect side dish for many Japanese meals. The large white daikon radish is sliced and marinated in a mixture of vinegar, salt, and sugar. Ground turmeric gives it a distinctive bright yellow color. It’s pleasantly crunchy and bursting with tart, sweet, and salty flavor.

Making a compound of unsalted butter and the salty, fungal deliciousness of Japanese miso paste is a surefire way of adding immense flavor to a simple weeknight meal. Here the mixture is spread over chicken thighs, which are then roasted to golden perfection. But you could easily use it on salmon or flounder, on corn or potatoes. The recipe calls for white miso, which is more mild than the aged version known as red miso. But you could certainly use red for a more intense result.

This easy recipe for Pickled Ginger (Gari) is so delicious, with a wonderful flavour and warmth. To make it, we soak thin slices of young ginger in a sweet rice wine vinegar brine. As they soak, they become a very soft, natural shade of pink. Serve thin slices of this pickle alongside sushi, sashimi and so much more.

Onigiri are a classic Japanese snack, the compact rice balls are a staple of the country’s convenience stores. They are portable, flavorful and filling — the ideal travel companion — and include dozens of variations. The technique is simple: The filling of choice (salmon, in this case) gets spooned into balls of rice that are shaped into triangles and wrapped in crispy seaweed. Wetting and salting your hands before working with the rice is key — it seasons the rice and prevents the grains from sticking to your palms.

Tonkotsu ramen is an excellent introduction to Japanese noodle soups. Deeply flavoured tonkotsu pork broth, ramen noodles and chashu pork belly come together to create comfort in a bowl.

Learn how to make miso soup at home! This traditional Japanese soup is nourishing, flavorful, and easy to make in 20 minutes.

Learn how to make quick-pickled onions! This tangy and crisp pickled onion recipe is ready in 30 minutes. These onions are the perfect condiment for tacos, burritos, nachos, burgers and more. Recipe yields 2 cups.