(ぬかづ)

ぬかづけ
noun
rice-bran pickles
food
1. rice-bran pickles; nukazuke
Vegetables preserved by burying them in a fermented rice bran (nuka) bed. A traditional Japanese pickling method that produces distinctively tangy, umami-rich pickles.
祖母(そぼ)糠漬(ぬかづ)絶品(ぜっぴん)だ。
My grandmother's rice-bran pickles are superb.
I serve cucumber rice-bran pickles at the table every day.
Making rice-bran pickles requires the effort of stirring the bran bed every day.

Usage

糠漬(ぬかづ)け is one of the most traditional forms of Japanese pickling. The key component is the 糠床(ぬかどこ) (rice bran bed), a mixture of rice bran, salt, and water that ferments over time. Common vegetables used include cucumbers, daikon, eggplant, and carrots.

Common collocations

Cultural note

Maintaining a 糠床(ぬかどこ) is seen as a hallmark of a well-kept Japanese household. Some families pass down their bran beds through generations.