Name: Daikon and Carrot Salad (Namasu)
Yield: Serves four
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 2 carrots; 20 cm/8 in daikon; 5 ml/1 tsp salt; 15 ml/1 tbsp sesame seeds; 70 ml/4½ tbsp rice vinegar; 45 ml/3 tbsp caster (superfine) sugar

Preparation info

Serves
four

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

The Japanese Cookbook

By Emi Kazuko and Yasuko Fukuoka

Published 2024

About

This dish, called Namasu in Japan, is essential for the New Year’s celebration meal. The bright colour combination of white daikon and red carrot is particularly favoured by many Japanese as it is regarded as a symbol of happiness. Start preparations for this recipe the day before it is to be eaten.

Ingredients

20 cm/8 in daikon
2 carrots
5

Method

Cut the daikon into three pieces, then thickly peel the skin. Peel the carrots and cut them into 5cm/2in pieces. Slice both vegetables very thinly lengthways then crossways to make very thin matchsticks. Alternatively, shred them with a grater or use a mandolin to achieve a similar effect.