Kombu Tsukudani (A Japanese Seaweed Relish) | Sybaritica

This dish is a Japanese preparation, very much like certain sort of Korean Banchan, which uses the edible seaweed known as Kombu for its main ingredient. Like its Korean counterparts, it keeps very well, can be used as a cold side-dish, and is particularly good as a flavorful topping for plain rice. It is not the prettiest dish in the world, perhaps, but it certainly packs a lot of flavor… 

A Tsukudani made with Kombu often includes other umami marine ingredients such as Katsuobushi (dried, smoked tuna flakes) while a preparation consisting of Kombu boiled down in Japanese soy sauce is more properly called ‘Shiokombu’. Mine is somewhere between the two. It is a little more complex than a very basic Shiokombu, but it contains no animal products and thus could be used as part of a vegetarian meal.

The Ingredients

• A 6 – 8 inch piece of Kombu, reconstituted;
• 2 tbsp. Sugar;
• 4 tbsp. Japanese Soy sauce;
• 2 tbsp. Mirin;
• 1 tbsp. Rice Vinegar;
• ½ tsp. minced Ginger (optional);
• 2/3 cup Water of Kombu Dashi;
• Pinch of Sesame Seeds.

Here is the reconstituted piece of Kombu I am using. You can simply soak a piece of dried seaweed in warm water for 10 or 15 minutes, or you can do as many people do and use a piece leftover from making the stock known as Dashi. If you are doing the former method, save some of the soaking water for the cooking fluid. You can use just plain water in either case but actual Dashi will provide the most flavor.

The Method

First, slice the Kombu into thin shreds. This is easiest if you roll pieces of the frond and slice crosswise. You can make thicker shreds, if you like, or even cut the Kombu into smallish squares. You should have roughly a cup of shreds when you are done.

Mix the sugar, soy, mirin, vinegar and ginger (if using) in a small saucepan and heat over a moderate flame until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid is just beginning to bubble.

Now add the Kombu and the water (or dashi). Turn down the heat to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes or so.

When the liquid is just about all evaporated and what remains is syrupy, stir in the sesame seeds and remove from the heat to cool. The relish will keep for at least two weeks until ready for use (although this is likely only a concern if larger amounts are made for multiple uses).

Tsukudani is sometimes used to stuff the Japanese rice balls known as Onigiri but it is especially good to add a little fillip to plain steamed rice as shown above. I haven’t tried it yet, but it may also make a nice relish alongside spicy skewers of meat…

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