With more time at home, there are more opportunities to cook for yourself, and many of you may have gotten into cooking. I also bought a commercially available nuka-bed and started making my own homemade nuka-zuke. Besides the familiar vegetables such as cucumbers and carrots, I have developed an exquisite nuka-zuke that makes sake drinkers swoon!

Pickled with sake

So, here are the top three ( at my own discretion) pickles with a slightly peculiar flavor and a hint of tartness that you can't get enough of! Please refer to this page for those who want to start making homemade nuka-zuke as well as for those who are a "nobebe" (pickle eater).

No. 3 "Avocado

A half-cut avocado, peeled, seeded and pickled, makes a great snack. The texture of the avocado melts in your mouth without even chewing. The flavor of the bran matches the buttery smoothness and richness of the avocado perfectly, giving it a unique taste! It is also good by itself to make drinks go further, combined with cheese, or on crackers. It goes well with wine, shochu, sake, or any other alcoholic beverage!

No.2 "Cotton tofu

Cotton (momen) tofu is wrapped in kitchen paper, weighted down with a plate or something similar, drained thoroughly, and then slowly marinated in bran overnight. When eaten, it is soft and fluffy, yet has a sticky, concentrated texture, just like cheese! When chewed, the beans softly fall apart, and the sweetness of the beans, the flavor of the bran, and just the right amount of saltiness spread out in a good balance. The light but deeply savory taste of this dish makes it hard to stop eating.

No.1 "Boiled egg

The moment I ate it, I felt like I had done it. The plump white flesh has a rich bran flavor and is full of umami, while the yolk has a rich, smooth texture and the richness of the egg is spread out in a mellow way, making it extremely tasty! It is an addictive flavor that not only makes sake go further, but also white rice.

Incidentally, these three dishes were well received by the sake drinkers around me, so I am sure that the "nombai" (easy-going people) among you can relate! If you're looking for something new to start this year (especially sake lovers), why don't you give homemade nukazuke a try!