Tsukemono - Kasuzuke (Sake Lees Pickling)

Step 1

Gather all the ingredients for Kasudoko. Put sake lees in a medium bowl and bring it to room temperature on the counter so it becomes much more pliable.

Step 2

Check the texture of sake lees with your fingers. If they feel solid firm, add sake first and microwave for a few seconds until it becomes pliable. Otherwise, combine sake lees with miso, sugar, and salt first.

Step 3

Using your hand, mix the ingredients and knead well until well combined.

Step 4

Add sake a little bit at a time to combine with the sake lee mixture. See the consistency to see if you need to add more sake. Each sake lee brand may have a different consistency and you may not need all of sake (or you may need more). The consistency you’re looking for is similar to miso, not too loose not too hard.

Step 5

Knead until kasudoko becomes paste form and then transfer to a glass container where you want to pickle your ingredients.