Namasu

Easy pleasey recipe for a favorite Japanese side dish – sweet and sour (vinegary) pickled cucumber, with carrot and daikon thrown in for good measure.

No cooking required, just a lot of thin-slicing.

Ingredients 

• CUCUMBER, 1 large English or 2 Japanese
• CARROT, 1 medium, skinny
• DAIKON, ½ small
• VINEGAR, ¼ cup white, ¼ cup rice wine
• SUGAR, ¼ cup
• SALT, ¼ teaspoon
• GINGER, 2 teaspoons grated

Preparation 

1. Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise, remove seeds, and peel strips lengthwise off of each half.  Slice the cucumber into ¼-inch pieces and set aside.
2. Peel the carrot and daikon and slice thinly.
3. Mix the sugar and salt into the vinegar until they dissolve, then add the ginger until dissolved.
4. Combine everything in medium size bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.