Japanese Pickled Plums Mitoku Umeboshi Plums are entirely handmade with great care, according to the traditional farmhouse method. Gathered in remote mountain orchards from trees that have never known chemicals, they have a wild quality, and are exceptionally potent and flavorful. The food that epitomizes the adage: "food is your best medicine." Umeboshi has been recognized by the Japanese as a powerful medicinal food for thousands of years, and is the highest known source of citric acid.
Uses: Umeboshi plums are used as a condiment, a zesty seasoning for salad dressings, veggies, pickles, sauces, spreads, dips, inserted in the center of rice balls (onigiri), or to make a Japanese medicinal tea.
Cooking with Ume Umeboshi and umeboshi paste are lively and versatile seasonings that add a pleasant tartness to salad dressings, cooked vegetables, and sauces. Umeboshi is also commonly served in Japan as a condiment with rice, or tucked inside a rice ball wrapped with nori. In the summer, thick cucumber rounds spread thinly with umeboshi paste are a cooling treat. Sparingly spread on cooked sweet corn, it is a delicious, healthful alternative to butter and salt. Umeboshi also goes well with members of the cabbage family, including broccoli, kale, and cauliflower.
When using whole pickled plums, it is usually necessary to remove the pit and mince the flesh before adding it to recipes. Umeboshi paste, another product offered under the Mitoku brand, can be substituted for umeboshi in virtually any recipe.
The shiso leaves that are often packaged with umeboshi are also delicious when chopped and used as a seasoning inside nori rolls or when tossed in with steamed or sautéed vegetables.
Plum vinegar, also known as Umeboshi vinegar or ume-su, contains many of the healing qualities and nutrients associated with pickled plums, and it is easy and convenient to use. Both pleasantly tart and salty, umeboshi vinegar is a versatile seasoning that is especially refreshing on hot afternoons. Use umeboshi vinegar to liven up salad dressings, homemade quick pickles, and tofu spreads. It adds a pleasantly pungent flavor to cooked leafy greens (especially cabbage), cauliflower, broccoli, and green beans. Steam, boil, or sauté vegetables until tender but still colorful. Drain if necessary, place in a serving bowl, and toss with umeboshi vinegar to taste. When substituting umeboshi vinegar for other types of vinegar, substantially reduce the amount used, or eliminate the salt in the recipe. The following recipes will help you become familiar with umeboshi and umeboshi vinegar and will soon have you discovering new ways to use these delicious and healthful seasonings.
Braised Cabbage With Ume
Serves 3
Umeboshi goes particularly well with vegetables in the cabbage family and with daikon radish.
1/2 head medium-sized cabbage
2 teaspoons Mitoku Sesame Oil
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Mitoku Umeboshi Paste or minced Umeboshi Plums.
Cut the cabbage half in half again lengthwise. Remove and thinly slice the core. Cut cabbage quarters crosswise into 1/8-1/4-inch slices. Heat oil in a frying pan, add umeboshi, and sauté briefly. Add cabbage and toss with umeboshi. (At first, umeboshi will not disperse evenly, but as you continue tossing and sautéeing, it will evenly coat cabbage.) After sautéeing, if no juice has come out of the cabbage, add a little water, cover, and simmer over low heat until tender (15-20 minutes). Serve hot.
Recipe by John & Jan Belleme
Cole Slaw
Serves 4
This salad goes well with almost any natural foods entrée. Toasted sunflower seeds add concentrated nutrition and extra flavor.
1 small head cabbage
1 teaspoon Masu 100% Sea water Sea Salt
1 large carrot, finely grated (peel if not organic)
1/3 cup vegan or natural mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Mitoku Umeboshi Vinegar
1&1/2 teaspoons Mitoku Organic Brown Rice Vinegar or lemon juice or Mitoku Yuzu Vinegar
1 teaspoon Mitoku Rice Malt or Rice Syrup
1 cup sunflower seeds
Cut the cabbage half in half again lengthwise. Remove tough core and reserve for another use. Slice cabbage crosswise, as thinly as possible. Rinse cabbage and drain well (shake to remove excess water), then place in a large bowl. Add salt, toss well, and knead (squeeze handfuls to help soften fibers). Set aside at least 20 minutes, then squeeze out excess water. Add carrot to cabbage and toss until evenly mixed. Make dressing by combining mayonnaise, umeboshi vinegar, brown rice vinegar or lemon juice, and rice syrup. Add dressing to vegetables and toss well.
Toast sunflower seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly until golden and fragrant. Transfer to a small bowl. If time permits, chill cole slaw slightly in the refrigerator. Top with a sprinkling of seeds. Serve remaining seeds on the side to be added to individual servings, as desired.
Orange-Ume Dressing
Makes 1 cup
This is a refreshing summer dressing for tossed salads and noodle salads.
3 level tablespoons Toasted Sesame Seeds or 3 tablespoons tahini
2 teaspoons Mitoku Umeboshi Paste or minced umeboshi
2 tablespoons light Sesame Oil or olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice or Mitoku Yuzu Vinegar
Juice of 1 - 1 1/2 oranges (to taste)
1 teaspoon minced green onion or chives (optional)
Toast sesame seeds (if using) in a dry skillet over medium heat for 1 - 2 minutes, stirring constantly. When seeds are fragrant and begin to pop, remove from pan to prevent them from overcooking and becoming bitter. Blend first 5 ingredients in a blender until smooth. Mix in scallions or chives (if desired), and chill for 30 minutes before using.
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