4.8 from 12 votes
Baby Sardine Tsukudani
With an intense umami taste and irresistible crunch, Baby Sardine Tsukudani makes the best companion to rice and tofu. Known as Jako Tsukudani, it is a classic Japanese preserved food of dried tiny sardines slowly simmered in a sweet-savory sauce to lock in the flavor.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 103 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
Japanese
Ingredients
- 2.8 oz chirimen jako (dried baby sardine) (80 g)
- ½ Tbsp toasted white sesame seeds (optional)
Seasonings
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp mirin
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp sake
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Quickly rinse the dried baby sardines under running water. This helps to clean and to remove excess saltiness from the fish. Drain the baby sardines well and transfer them to the saucepan.
- Add mirin, sake, sugar, and soy sauce in the saucepan.
- Mix all the ingredients and turn the heat to medium heat.
- Bring the sauce to boil. Once boiling, skim off the foam and reduce the heat to low.
- Cover the baby sardines with an otoshibuta (drop lid) and simmer on low heat, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Be careful not to burn.
- Once the sauce has thickened and you can see the bottom of the pot, turn off the heat. Transfer the Tsukudani to a glass container. Optionally, add the sesame seeds and mix well.
Cup of Yum
To Store
- You can keep the Tsukudani in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or the freezer for 2-3 months.
Notes
- Recipe by Namiko Chen of Just One Cookbook. All images and content on this site are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without my permission. If you’d like to share this recipe on your site, please re-write the recipe in your own words and link to this post as the original source. Thank you.
Nutrition Information
Calories
103kcal
(5%)
Carbohydrates
8g
(3%)
Protein
9g
(18%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Cholesterol
78mg
(26%)
Sodium
880mg
(37%)
Potassium
105mg
(3%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
8g
(16%)
Vitamin A
1IU
(0%)
Calcium
10mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 103
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 103kcal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 8g | 3% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 78mg | 26% |
| Sodium | 880mg | 37% |
| Potassium | 105mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 1IU | 0% |
| Calcium | 10mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.