sake

Pickled herring with Japanese pepper

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

The Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture is famous for its rice and sake, and as a result, there is a wide variety of delicious local dishes that go well with rice and sake

, we will introduce "Pickled Herring in Sansho Pepper," a fragrant and sophisticated dish made in the Aizu region

What is pickled herring with sansho pepper?

Herring pickled in sansho pepper is made by layering herring and sansho leaves and slowly marinating them in a light dipping sauce made with soy sauce, vinegar, sake, sugar, etc. This dish combines the sweet, salty, and sour flavor of the dipping sauce with the refreshing flavor of sansho pepper

Japanese pepper leaves
Japanese pepper leaves

It is prepared from spring to summer when the new sansho buds are harvested

What is the history of pickled herring with Japanese pepper?

Pickled herring with sansho pepper has a long history as an excellent preserved food

In Aizu, an inland area surrounded by mountains, dried herring is a very valuable commodity. In the days when distribution and refrigeration were difficult, it was hard to get hold of fresh fish. It is said that the origin of this dish came from people buying dried herring in Hokkaido and cooking it in a way that would make it last longer

In Aizu, the Aizu Hongo-yaki herring bowl is used to make herring pickled in sansho pepper. The pickling bowl is approximately 25 cm long and 12 cm wide. It is a deep, rectangular pottery piece that is just the right size to hold herring.

Pickled herring in sansho pepper has been passed down as an essential part of Aizu's food culture, to the extent that special bowls have been made for it

Can you make your own pickled herring with Japanese pepper? Here's a recipe

Herring pickled in sansho pepper can be purchased as a souvenir or online, but since it was originally a home-cooked dish, you can also make it yourself. Here is an example of a recipe for herring pickled in sansho pepper

Missing herring
Missing herring

A convenient container for pickling is a Tupperware container that can be easily stored in the refrigerator. For the dried herring, we use hard-packed ones called "hon-kiri"

<Materials>

  • 5 dried herring
  • About 30 Japanese pepper leaves
  • 100cc vinegar
  • 150cc soy sauce
  • Alcohol 30cc
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

<How to make>

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

<How to eat>

It is common to cut it into pieces and eat it as is. To add a touch of flavor, lightly sear the surface to bring out its more fragrant flavor

You can also use a plastic bag filled with water as a weight. Also, since this recipe uses natural ingredients, please try to eat any leftovers as soon as possible

Introducing Aizu's local sake that pairs well with pickled herring in sansho pepper

If you're going to try Aizu's local dish, "Pickled Herring in Sansho Pepper," we recommend pairing it with some delicious local sake. Here are three delicious local sakes from Aizu that pair perfectly with the fragrant herring in sansho pepper

  • Hanaizumi
  • Aizu Homare
  • national sovereignty

Hanaizumi

This is the flagship brand of Hanaizumi Sake Brewery, which has been in business in Minamiaizu Town since the Taisho era. It has long been a favorite at local banquets. It is thick and sweet, with a rich, mellow flavor that fills your mouth. It pairs perfectly with the tartness of herring pickled in sansho pepper

Hanaizumi ＜Information＞

Aizu Homare

This is the flagship brand of Homare Sake Brewery, which continues to brew sake with care in Kitakata City. It is characterized by its elegant, fragrant, and crisp taste. Its price range makes it suitable for everyday use, making it a great choice

Aizu Homare <Information>

national sovereignty

This is a long-established sake brewery in Minamiaizu Town that has been making sake since the Meiji era. The sake produced by the clear water and climate of snowy Okuaizu has a lingering balance of richness and acidity. The umami of the rice can be felt, making it a product that will impress any sake lover. It is also popular as a delicious hot sake

National Sovereignty <Information>

summary

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

Pickled herring with sansho pepper, which was originally made as an excellent preserved food, is a dish that has taken deep root in the region as a local Aizu flavor. Why not give this Aizu flavor a try?

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