Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Wednesday in Japan, quick pickles

Weaver and several friends wanted to know how I made Quick Japanese Pickles.
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I grew up  eating Polish foods which has a lot of pickled dishes and pickles.
So I just love anything pickled, along with Japanese and Korean pickled veggies.

One of my favorite foods are Japanese Quick Pickles.
Super easy to make, with none of the bother, for me of the water bath
or special jars and equipment.
You just make them and eat. You can keep them a week
or so if they last that long.
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Green beans, carrots and onions and radishes.

I follow several blogs where they grow their own food and pickle, jar, jam or chutney 
every bit of their crops and it looks so wonderful and tasty. Plus necessary for cold,
icy, wet or snowed in winter where they live.

Quick pickled shallots and green beans. We used them right away for dinner.

As for me I drive just down the street and pick my veggies and fruit there.
If I am making a certain dinner I will plan to make the pickles the day before or that morning.
Mostly I just look in the refrigerator and see if any veggies are there for pickling to eat with my lunch,  dinner or to snack on. 
I will have them on rice for a simple breakfast or lunch you can also add a protein, on a Banh mi
Vietnamese- French sandwich (the way John Grey loves Scotched Eggs I adore Banh mi)
Chopped up and added to Ramen or Pho (Vietnamese Noodle soup)
Fabulous on cheeseburger, next to a main dish or just to munch on.
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 Vegetarian Pad Thai with tofu and crunchy carrots, radishes and cucumbers.

Duck stew with pickled veggies.

The basic brine is Japanese rice or a white vinegar, water some sugar and salt.
It is either cooked or fresh.
That is it. 
Of course you can add some herbs or spices.
If you can make Oshinko which are crunchy pickles that are made by salting
and pressing carrots, radishes or cucumbers. I don't make these but so yummy.

For carrots, green bean (blanched) and cucumbers you will boil 
1 cup of vinegar (rice or white vinegar)
1/2 cup sugar (I never add this much to sweet for me. I use way way less.
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds, celery seed and black peppercorn
Bring to a boil.
I never measure so I am just guessing here.
Put veggies in jars add, lemon slices, red pepper flakes, chilies, garlic or whatever you like.
Pour in hot liquid, let cool, cover and refrigerate for at least a day before
eating. Good for a week. If they last that long.
.

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 Jicama

Garlic and Jalapeno

For onions I just use apple vinegar, water a pinch of salt and sugar mix well.
Use a plastic bag or dish, cover and let sit for at least 15 minutes to a hour at room temperature
Radishes are the same just use rice or white vinegar.
This works well for eating right now or later in the day.
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I have to be careful of nightshades so cooked onions are fine but if I want to eat
a raw onion I need to do a quick pickle or I get a headache after a few bites.
Quick pickling just works great for me.
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Kumquats

Now for something new. I haven't tried this yet but instead of tossing your stems
from  kale  to your chickens or compost you can pickle them !

Shock # 2
Avocado Pickles
What ?
Just what did I say ?
If you want an avocado right away and all you have are hard really rock hard
avocados this is for you.



From "The Kitchen"
I cup vinegar, white or rice.
1 cup of water 
1/2 half cup of sugar (way to sweet for me I will cut way back )
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon whole peppercorns 
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (I added more)
Extras:
garlic, mustard seeds (I use) caraway seeds, coriander seeds

Place vinegar, water, sugar, salt peppercorns, red pepper flakes, add any other extras
you want and bring to a boil, stir occasionally to dissolve the sugar and salt.
Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
Peel and pit avocado. Slice or cube. Put into jars and pour over the cool brine.
Completely cover the avocados.
Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours. Will keep up to a week.

I thought this too sweet. The next time I make this I will add garlic, onion, chilies
and whatever. While I like my guacamole very natural, salt, pepper, lemon or lime juice,
that's all and Oh My Goodness no tomatoes !
I think  these "pickles" will work with whatever you toss in.
Like Ceviche the acid "cookes the avocado" or so I think !
But really what do I know.

I have "lost" many of my pickled veggies photos.
So the few I did find I hope helps.

Also: Tomorrow is Mountain Day.
So everyone go hug a Mountain and that means you especially Willian !

pickled. . . parsnip
music. . . How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful,  Florence + The Machine











22 comments:

  1. What a wonderful post! I adore pickles and reading this makes me want to go rummage through the fridge to see what kinds I have on hand. Nothing very exciting, I'm sure. I would love to try some of these recipes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Thank You. I am not very good at trying to write about recipes, the ones I have been making for years and just do not think about.
      I was trying to just give some general info. Just go on-line and see what pops up.
      A few leftover carrots and whatever pickled for 15 or so minutes really can pick up a sandwich or salad.

      Delete
  2. I've got a bunch of banana squash and those squash that look like UFOs- been running out of ways to prepare them. Pickling! That's what I'll do now. Thanks Parsnip!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have never tried squash, since I don't have a garden I just buy what I need.
      I am off to look up if you can pickle squash. What a cool idea if you can.

      Delete
  3. It is really so easy and healthy. I found a little gadget last year in the Lehman's catalog that you screw onto a quart jar. It ferments veggies in a few days and supposedly is very healthy for you. I did try it. So easy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gosh Donna, I will look this up. I know you do the water bath long term fruits and veggies.
      I have a jar with a suction top that will quick pickle and make it taste fabulous in a day.
      I will look up Lehman's.
      Thank You.

      Delete
  4. No, no. Nothing pickled. Willy Dunne Wooters has a rock hard avocado. tee hee

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hahahahahahahahahahaha
      Belly Rubs the gud dugs for me.

      Delete
  5. Thank you, Parsnip, for giving me some additional ideas to add to the quick pickled kirby cucumbers that have become this summer's favorite snack. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kirby's are so tasty.
      My first Scotty was named Kirby but after the vacuum.
      Everything on the floor was her's ! I miss her everyday.

      Delete
    2. Hoping my use of kirby brought you a happy memory. xo

      Delete
  6. So that's a kumquat! I wondered what they looked like!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I use to have a Kumquat tree. They are sour/sweet.
      I candie these, served over a panna cotta with chopped chocolate.
      They are so pretty.

      Delete
  7. We rarely had anything pickled in the house.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We grew up with pickles and smoked fish and meats. I think they are like the cherry on top,
      just that added extra. But not everyone likes everything and that is just fine.

      Delete
  8. Your pickled veggies look so beautiful! I've never pickled anything before but I want to try it now. And wow, pickled avocado is such a great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just google Japanese Quick Pickles and lots of ideas will pop up.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love avocados and your recipe sounds delish.

    ReplyDelete