What is "asazuke"

(literally: shallow pickling) is a Japanese pickling method characterized by its short preparation time. The word asazuke can also refer to the items pickled in this manner.

Because of its short preparation time, asazuke generally lacks the pungency created by other, more lengthy pickling methods but retains more of the fresh taste of the vegetable. Commonly used vegetables include daikon, hakusai, cucumbers, or eggplant. Asazuke is usually prepared by rubbing the cut vegetables with salt and placing in a sealed bag or other sealed container along with such items as sliced kombu or chili peppers. Instead of salt, asazuke can also be prepared with vinegar, nuka, or a pickling solution that is sold in stores. Sufficient pickling times range anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.

Asazuke has become a very popular method of pickling in Japanese households due to its ease of preparation.