Explore Guides
Local food map
Nara (Japan)
Hotels in area
Side dish
Vegetarian
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
50kcal
1gProtein
6gCarbs
—Fat
1gFibre
100 gServing
* Per serving · 100 g. May vary.
Allergens
🫘 Soy
Narazuke
How to order / say it
Say it
奈良漬け — [nah-rah-zoo-keh]
Order
I'd like to order Narazuke.
Locally
奈良漬けをお願いします。
Say locally
Rice bran pickles fermented over years in Nara.
Why try it?
Narazuke is integral to Nara's culinary tradition, showcasing ancient fermentation techniques and the depth of preserved flavors.
How it tastes
Intensely rich and complex, with a warm, alcoholic finish from long fermentation in sake lees, imparting a savory umami taste.
Origin & History — first documented: 710
Dating back to the Nara period, these pickles were created as a method to preserve vegetables, capitalizing on the abundant sake production in the region. Over centuries, the technique of using sake kasu developed, characterizing Nara's pickles with unique flavors.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🥕 500 g cucumber
- 🍷 300 g sake lees
- 🍷 100 ml mirin
- 🧂 30 g salt
- 🍯 50 g sugar
Method
- 1 Wash cucumbers and soak in saltwater overnight.
- 2 Drain cucumbers and pack in sake lees mixture.
- 3 Seal the container and let ferment for several months.
- 4 Periodically check and replenish sake lees as needed.
- 5 Slice and serve as desired.
More from Nara
© Wikimedia Commons
Main course
Fish & Seafood
Kaki-no-ha Sushi
柿の葉寿司
kah-kee-no-ha soo-shee
Sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves from Nara.
© Wikimedia Commons
Breakfast
Vegan
Chagayu
茶粥
chah-gah-yoo
A comforting Nara porridge of rice cooked in tea.
🌱
Drink
Vegan
Yamato-cha
大和茶
yah-mah-toh chah
High-quality, traditional Japanese green tea from Nara.
© Wikimedia Commons
Main course
Vegan
Miwa Somen
三輪素麺
mee-wah soh-men
Thin, hand-stretched wheat noodles from Miwa.
© Wikimedia Commons
Drink
Vegan
Matcha
抹茶
Maat-chah
Finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea leaves
© Wikimedia Commons
Main course
Vegan
Soba
そば
So-bah
Buckwheat noodles served hot in broth or cold with a dipping sauce.
© Wikimedia Commons
Main course
Vegan
Shojin Ryori
精進料理
shoh-jeen ryo-ri
Traditional Zen Buddhist vegan cuisine.
Snack
Fish & Seafood
Mentai Tamago
明太玉子
men-tai tah-mah-go
A fluffy omelette filled with spicy cod roe.
© Wikimedia Commons
Main course
Fish & Seafood
Tempura
天ぷら
tem-poo-rah
Battered and deep-fried seafood or vegetables.
© Wikimedia Commons
Snack
Meat
Yakitori
焼き鳥
yah-kee-toh-ree
Grilled skewers of chicken, often seasoned with tare sauce or salt.