Niina (Mar 2, 2022)

People in the Uonuma region of Niigata often eat “Tsukemono”, or pickled vegetable, all the year round. Using vegetables season by season, they make many kinds of Tsukemono, for example, cucumber or eggplant pickles in summer. Winter is the season of Nozawana, green leafed vegetables. They preserve Nozawana with salt and water and pressed it under a heavy weight.  During winter, Nozawana-zuke (pickles) is often served as a side dish.

When people get tired of eating it at the end of winter, Nozawana-zuke is turned to another dish, Niina. Leftover Nozawana-zuke is simmered with small dried sardines or soybeans and the Niina is ready. Nozawana-zuke was a valuable preserved vegetable in the old days. The wisdom of ancient people teach us how to reduce food-loss!

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