Recipe

[Yamagata Prefecture] The representative summer pickle of the Okitama region. What is the popular round eggplant?

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In the Okitama region, located in southwestern Yamagata Prefecture,eating young, round eggplants pickled using a unique methodis a summer tradition.

Recently, pickling methods have been improved, making it easier to pickle

the charm of round eggplants anddeliciousWe'll introduce

What kind of eggplant is a round eggplant?

Eggplant has been improved in many varietiesNearly 200 speciesIt's surprising that there are such things

Round eggplant

The eggplants you commonly see in supermarkets are medium-length eggplants, often sold in bags of several pieces. There are also large, round eggplants sold individually

Among the many eggplant varieties, the round eggplant we are introducing this time is a thin-skinned round eggplant that has a good reputation as a small eggplant that can be eaten in one bite

The secret story behind the birth of round eggplants, a favorite in the Okitama region?

Long ago, during the time of Uesugi Kagekatsu, the lord of the Uesugi domain, samurai were ordered to grow the native Kubota eggplant, which was later popularized by Uesugi Yozan

Furthermore, the cross between Kubota eggplant and Sendaicho eggplant was created as "Bonten round eggplantIt is also registered as a registered trademark for pickles under the name "

Incidentally, "Bontenmaru" was the name of Date Masamune, the lord of the Sendai domain, when he was a child living in Yonezawa, and it is said that the hybrid of the Yonezawa native eggplant and the Sendai Naga eggplant was named after Date Masamune

As its name suggests, its thin skin and crisp texture, along with the refreshing juiciness it offers when eaten as a pickle,and indispensable item in summer picklesmake it a beloved

Is pickled eggplant actually delicious?

「Thin-skinned round eggplant" As the name suggests, the skin is thin and crispThe freshness you feel when eating it as a pickle is amazing

Thin-skinned round eggplant

It is so beloved by the people of the prefecture that it is said to be a staple on the summer dinner table

Eggplant is said to have a cooling effect on the body, and it's expected to cool down the body from the inside when it's overheated in the sweltering heat,making it a perfect summer food.

It is so popular in the local area that some households keep it on hand to accompany tea

It seems that each household has their own unique way of pickling it, and it has become a dish that they are proud of

Recipe for pickling thin-skinned round eggplant

[Things to prepare]

  • Thin-skinned round eggplant or young round eggplant
  • water
  • salt
  • sugar
  • Alum

[How to pickle]

  1. Prepare the eggplants.
    Wash them thoroughly and make a cross-shaped incision at the stem end. If the eggplants are large, cut off the stems.
  2. Bring
    water (approximately 1,800 ml), 150 g salt, 300 g sugar, and 1 tablespoon alum (to maintain a vibrant color)
    to a boil in a pot and let it cool.
    *If you are hesitant to use alum, you can omit it. The color may deteriorate due to the bitterness of the eggplant, but the taste will not be affected.
  3. Place the eggplant (and the takanotsume leaves, if using) in the prepared pickling container and pour in the prepared pickling liquid until everything is completely submerged

the weights used on the picklesSome of you may have noticed
This is the secret to our unique pickling method.

Actually, the secret to easily making pickled eggplant at homepickle it in a jar or empty bottle(as shown in the image above).

The container mentioned above is an empty bottle
Using the narrow part near the opening of the empty bottle,Pack the eggplants tightly so that they can be pressed downThat's why

Press down as much as you can from the top, then fill in any gaps with takanotsume and finally cover with shiso leaves to seal the contents

Close the lid tightly and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 10 to 15 hours until it is ready to eat

In my house, we reuse empty coffee bottles and stock them up for pickling eggplant

Other delicious pickling methods

Pickled small eggplants in mustard are also famous, aren't they? Thin-skinned round eggplants are pickled in the same way.
Pickled eggplants in mustard seem to be popular as a snack to go with alcohol.

In the Okitama region, when a lot of round eggplants are obtained, they are salted using a lot of salt, and then in winter when vegetables are scarce, they are desalted and re-pickled in a separately made pickling liquid

There are various ways to make light pickles, such as soaking them in beer, and they are well-received for their beautiful color.The pickling is done using leftover beer or non-alcoholic beer, so it is said that even people who are not big drinkers can enjoy this method

summary

The Okitama region, located in the southwest of Yamagata Prefecture, is home to small eggplants. Thin-skinned round eggplants are lightly pickled in many households, making them a very popular dish

In the summer, if you put ice in a small bowl and place pickled eggplant on top, it will look refreshing and you will want to eat it quickly

Furthermore, pickled eggplant has become an indispensable item even when neighbors are just having tea together.
Since the seasoning and pickling methods vary from household to household, people share their creative ideas with each other, and it seems that pickled eggplant can even spark lively conversations.

Are you starting to crave thin-skinned round eggplants as summer pickles?

It seems that you can also order it online, so be sure to do some research and give it a try

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