Nishin no sanshozuke ｜ Our Regional Cuisines

Fukushima Prefecture

Nishin no sanshozuke

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Main lore areas

All over the Aizu region
Main ingredients used

Migaki nishin, leaves of sansho (Japanese pepper)

History/origin/related events

In the Edo period (1603-1868), when there was almost no distribution of raw fish in Fukushima, nishin caught in Hokkaido were dried and made into "migaki nishin" for distribution outside of Hokkaido. This fish was then transported to the Aizu region, where it came to be valued because it could be preserved and was a source of protein. In Fukushima, in particular, winters are long and crops are scarce for a long period of time, so food that could be stored for a long time was favored. Migaki nishin became a familiar foodstuff, and local dishes such as "vinegared nishin" came to be prepared.
Nishin no sansho zuke" (Nishin marinated in Japanese pepper) is another dish using migaki nishin, which is made by covering it with sansho leaves and seasoning it with soy sauce, vinegar, and sake. It is commonly eaten in the Aizu-Wakamatsu area, and is so familiar that there is a special bowl called a "nishin-bachi" for sansho pickles. The rectangular bowl is said to be made of Aizu Hongo-yaki pottery and matches the size of the migaki nishin.
Opportunities and times of eating habits

It is most commonly eaten from spring to early summer, when sansho (Japanese pepper) is harvested. There are two types of migaki nishin: hard "hon-koshi" and slightly softer "han-koshi," but in the past, hon-koshi was often used because of its high preservability and concentrated umami flavor. Because migakinishin has an odor, the purpose of this dish was to remove the odor and enrich the flavor by adding fresh sansho (Japanese pepper).
How to eat

Place sansho leaves in a Nishin bowl, wash the Nishin thoroughly with a scrubbing brush, and arrange the Nishin with their heads removed in a tight line. Then the leaves are covered with vinegar, sake, and soy sauce, and the bowl is covered with a lid and weighted down with a weighted stone. After a few days to a week, the flavors will soak in well. For a delicious taste, you should also rehydrate the nigashin in the water in which rice is washed.
Efforts for Preservation and Succession

Nishin bowls for making sansho-zuke (Nishin-nishin) are still sold in Fukushima Prefecture, and the culture and dietary traditions continue to be passed down.

RECIPE

Ingredients (For 4 persons)

rubbing the wrong way (e.g. a knife or pencil) 20 sticks
leaves of sansho (Japanese pepper) 1 palmful
vinegar 1 cup
sake 1 cup
soy sauce 1 cup

How to cook

1. [Preparation] Wash nishin well with a scrubbing brush, wipe dry and remove the head.
2. [Preparation] Remove Sansho leaves from the branches.
3. Place the leaves in a nishin bowl, arrange the nishin tightly on top of the leaves, then add more sansho, then more nishin, and finally cover with the sansho leaves.
4. Pour the vinegar, sake, and soy sauce mixture over the top of 3, cover with a lid, and place a weight on top.
5. After 2 to 3 days, it is ready to eat.

provider : Mihoko Hiraide

Recipes vary depending on the region and home.

Contact

Food Cultures Office, Overseas Market Development and Food Cultures Division, Food Industry Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Tel:+81-3-3502-5516

Nishin no sanshozuke ｜ Our Regional Cuisines

Fukushima Prefecture

Nishin no sanshozuke

Main lore areas

Main ingredients used

History/origin/related events

Opportunities and times of eating habits

How to eat

Efforts for Preservation and Succession

RECIPE

Ingredients (For 4 persons)

How to cook