Ingredients (serves 2)
2 cucumbers
1 myoga ginger
3 aojiso / green shiso leaves
1 tbsp miso
1 tsp sugar (adjust as desired)
1 tsp parched sesame seeds
2 pinches salt
How to make
1. Cut the cucumber into thin rounds, place in a bowl, and add salt and mix. Let sit for about 10 minutes until the cucumber softens, and then squeeze to remove the moisture. Cut the myoga ginger into fine slices, and the green shiso leaves into thin strips.
2. Parch the sesame seeds until fragrant.
3. Combine the miso, sugar, and parched sesame seeds, add the cucumber (1) and then the green shiso leaves and myoga ginger, and mix.
Some regions are a treasure trove of unique recipes. The town of Kanra, in Gunma Prefecture, is one such place, with a local cuisine including flour dishes such as suiton, tsumikko, and yakimochi.
I asked the local moms to name a few popular summer recipes, and they said one favorite is dressed cucumber. Cucumber is typically pickled in salt and sweet vinegar, but in Kanra it’s dressed with miso. Traditionally in this region, the men gathered in the winter, during the farming off season, and made a year’s worth of barley miso. Miso made the traditional way is still sold today under the name Todoroku Miso.
The dressed cucumber that the moms made for me was fragrant with seasonings and rich with miso. It made a tasty topping for somen noodles, and a wonderful side dish for summer rice menus. Re-parching makes the sesame seeds even more fragrant and the dish extra special. The quick and easy dressed cucumber is perfect for the summer.
minokamo | Cookery expert / Photographer
Gifu Prefecture native minokamo’s culinary adventures were inspired by her fond childhood memories of cooking with her grandmother. She researches, writes about, and arranges regional dishes that capture, through their preparation and presentation, sensory enjoyments inspired by local climate, history, and lifestyles. Ryori tabi kara tadaima(Back from a Cooking Journey; Fudosha), published in September 2020, is a collection of recipes from minokamo’s visits to homes up and down Japan.
