Translation guide
A fermented paste made from rice bran, salt, and water, used to pickle vegetables. The key Japanese term is ぬか床 (nukadoko), referring to the bed of paste itself, while ぬか漬け (nukazuke) refers to the pickles made with it.
Referring to the fermented rice bran mixture used for pickling.
The standard term for the rice bran paste bed. Literally 'bran bed'. This is what you maintain and stir daily.
ぬか床を毎日かき混ぜる必要があります。
You need to stir the nukadoko every day.
Literally 'bran miso', sometimes used interchangeably with nukadoko, but can also refer to a miso-based pickling paste. Less common for the standard rice bran bed.
祖母のぬか味噌は長年受け継がれています。
My grandmother's nukamiso has been passed down for years.
Refers to a wetter, more liquid bran bed (dobuzuke style). Rarely used in everyday conversation.
どぶ漬けの床は水分が多いので、すぐに漬かります。
Dobuzuke bed has a lot of moisture, so things pickle quickly.
Referring to the finished pickled vegetables.
The standard term for vegetables pickled in nukadoko. Often used as a generic term for such pickles.
今日のぬか漬けはきゅうりと大根です。
Today's nukazuke are cucumber and daikon radish.
Pickles made in a wetter, quicker bran bed. Often used for vegetables like cucumber or eggplant.
Referring to the process of creating or caring for the nukadoko.
Literally 'to raise the nukadoko'. The common phrase for maintaining and nurturing the fermenting bed over time.
ぬか床を育てるのは手間がかかりますが、楽しいです。
Raising a nukadoko takes effort, but it's enjoyable.
To stir the nukadoko. A daily task to prevent mold and ensure even fermentation.
毎朝ぬか床をかき混ぜています。
I stir the nukadoko every morning.
While ぬか味噌 (nukamiso) contains the word for miso, it is not the same as regular miso paste. It specifically refers to a pickling medium made with rice bran.
ぬか床 (nukadoko) is the paste bed itself, while ぬか漬け (nukazuke) refers to the finished pickles. You maintain the nukadoko to make nukazuke.
Dobuzuke is a type of lightly pickled vegetable.