A savory blend of chopped vegetables, Fukujinzuke is a popular relish to Japanese curry.
Fukujinzuke (福神漬け) is a mix of pickled vegetables eaten with Japanese curry as a palate cleanser. Add a spoonful as a side dish to curry and rice.
Table of contents
What is Fukujinzuke?
Fukujinzuke is a popular accompaniment for Japanese curry. The crunchy pickle mix includes thin slices of daikon radish, Japanese eggplant, lotus root, carrot, cucumber, kombu, shiso, and other finely chopped vegetables, then marinated in a soy sauce base liquid. It’s not a fermented food product like tsukemono.
The name derives from the Seven Lucky Gods or Shichi-fukujin (七福神), a group of deities native to China, India, and Japan. Thus, the pickle traditionally includes seven ingredients.
What Does It Taste Like?
It’s savory, sweet, and tangy, and with a crunchy texture.
Where To Buy
You can make a homemade version, but some vegetables can be hard to find outside Japan. For convenience, you can find commercial fukujinzuke on Amazon or your local Japanese/Asian grocery store sold in jars or packages. The store-bought version is usually dyed red or reddish-orange to mimic the natural dye from shiso.
How To Store
Keep opened jars or packages in the fridge.
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