(なんばんづ)

なんばんづけ
noun
nanban-zuke; fish or chicken marinated in sweet vinegar with chili and onion
1. nanban-zuke; fried fish or chicken marinated in sweet vinegar sauce
A Japanese dish in which fried fish, chicken, or vegetables are marinated in a sweet-sour sauce of vinegar, soy, sugar, sliced onion, and chili pepper. Served chilled or at room temperature; the flavors deepen as it sits.
今晩(こんばん)のおかずは(あじ)南蛮漬(なんばんづ)けだ。
Tonight's side dish is horse mackerel nanban-zuke.
南蛮漬(なんばんづ)けは()やしてから()べると美味(おい)しい。
Nanban-zuke is delicious eaten chilled.
()げた鶏肉(とりにく)(たま)ねぎと唐辛子(とうがらし)()りの南蛮酢(なんばんず)()けて、南蛮漬(なんばんづ)けを(つく)った。
I deep-fried chicken and marinated it in nanban vinegar with onion and chili to make nanban-zuke.

Composed of 南蛮(なんばん) (literally "southern barbarian," a historical term for Portuguese and Spanish traders) plus ()け (pickled, marinated). The dish is thought to derive from the southern-European technique of preserving fried fish in vinegar.

KEY POINTS:

  • Most often made with small whole fish (especially (あじ)) or chicken pieces
  • Marinade combines vinegar, soy, sugar, sliced onion, and dried chili
  • Best after several hours so the flavors penetrate; commonly eaten as a make-ahead dish

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • (あじ)南蛮漬(なんばんづ)け: horse mackerel nanban-zuke
  • (とり)南蛮漬(なんばんづ)け: chicken nanban-zuke
  • 南蛮漬(なんばんづ)けにする: to make into nanban-zuke

RELATED:

  • チキン南蛮(ちきんなんばん): a Miyazaki specialty of fried chicken with tartar sauce — uses similar nanban vinegar but is served warm