Pickled herring with Japanese pepper

[Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture] What is Aizu's local dish "Herring Pickled in Sansho"? Enjoy with delicious local sake

The Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture is famous for its rice and sake production. Coupled with this, there is a wide variety of local cuisine that can be enjoyed with rice and alcohol.

we would like to introduce ``herring pickled in sansho'' , a fragrant dish made in the Aizu region that has a mature taste Please enjoy the taste of Aizu with delicious local sake.

What is herring pickled in Japanese pepper?

Sansho pickled herring is made by layering herring and sansho leaves and slowly pickling them in a refreshing dipping sauce such as soy sauce, vinegar, sake, or sugar. A dish with the sweet-salty and sour taste of pickled juice and the refreshing flavor of Japanese pepper.

Japanese pepper leaves
Japanese pepper leaves

It is prepared from spring to summer when the new buds of Japanese pepper can be harvested.

What is the history of pickled herring with Japanese pepper?

Sansho pickled herring has a history of being made as an excellent preserved food.

In Aizu, which is inland and surrounded by mountains, herring is extremely valuable. At a time when distribution and cold storage were difficult, raw fish was difficult to obtain. It is said that the origin of the dish is that the dried herring purchased in Hokkaido was cooked in a way that made it last longer.

In Aizu, `` Aizu Hongo-yaki herring pot'' is used to make herring pickled with sansho. The size of the pickling pot is approximately 25 cm long and 12 cm wide. It is a deep rectangular piece of pottery that is just the right size for the herring.

Sansho pickled herring has been passed down as an indispensable part of Aizu's food culture, so much so that a special pot has been made for it.

Can you make herring pickled in Japanese pepper yourself? Introducing the recipe

Sansho-zuke herring can be purchased as a souvenir or mail-order product, but since it was originally a home-cooked dish, you can also make it yourself. Here we will introduce an example of a recipe for pickled herring with Japanese pepper

Missing herring
Missing herring

A convenient container for pickling is a Tupperware container that can be easily stored in the refrigerator. We use hard herring called hon- ken''

<Materials>

  • 5 herrings
  • Approximately 30 Japanese pepper leaves
  • Vinegar 100cc
  • Soy sauce 150cc
  • Alcohol 30cc
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

<How to make>

  1. Preparation: Soak the herring in rice water overnight and rehydrate.
  2. Cut off the head, tail, and dorsal fin of the herring, remove the scales, and wash thoroughly.
  3. Alternately layer the herring and sansho leaves in a container such as Tupperware.
  4. Bring the dipping sauce to a gentle boil and pour it over the layered herring.
  5. Put a weight on it and let it marinate in the refrigerator for about a week.

<How to eat>

It is common to cut it up and eat it as is. As an arrangement, you can enjoy a more fragrant flavor by slightly searing the surface.

A plastic bag filled with water can also be used as a weight. Also, since it uses natural ingredients, be sure to eat up any leftovers as soon as possible.

Introducing Aizu local sake that goes well with pickled herring with Japanese pepper

If you are going to try Aizu's local dish ``Herring Pickled in Sansho'', we recommend pairing it with delicious local sake. Here are three delicious local sakes from Aizu that won't put up a fight when paired with fragrant herring pickled in Japanese pepper.

  • Hanaizumi
  • Aizu Homare
  • national rights

Hanaizumi

The representative brand of Hanaizumi Sake Brewery, which has been operating in Minamiaizu Town since the Taisho era. It has long been loved locally at banquets. It's melty and sweet, with a relaxing flavor and richness that fills your mouth. It goes great with the sour herring pickled in Japanese pepper.

Hanaizumi ＜Information＞

Aizu Homare

The representative brand of Homare Sake Brewery, which continues to carefully brew sake in Kitakata City. It is elegant, aromatic, and has a sharp taste. The price range for daily use is also a great feature, making it easy to drink throughout your daily life.

Aizu Homare＜Information＞

national rights

This is a long-established sake brewery in Minamiaizu Town that has been producing sake since the Meiji era. The sake produced by the clear water and climate of Oku-Aizu, deep in the snow, has a balance of richness and acidity that leaves a lasting impression. You can feel the flavor of the rice in this dish, which will delight sake lovers. The hot sake is also said to be delicious.

National rights ＜Information＞

summary

This time, we introduced Aizu's local dish "Herring Pickled in Sansho."

Sansho pickled herring, which began to be made as an excellent preserved food, is a dish that has become deeply rooted in the region as a taste of Aizu's hometown. Why not try the taste of Aizu at least once?

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