Steps

1. First, prepare your favorite seasonal vegetables.
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2. Cut off the ends of the cucumber and slice it in half lengthwise.
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3. Use a spoon to remove the seeds from the cucumber. This is the key! Removing the seeds improves the crisp texture and helps the flavors to soak in better. It also reduces the raw cucumber smell, making it more palatable even for those who dislike cucumbers.
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4. Slice the cucumber diagonally into slightly thick pieces. Be careful not to make them too thick, as this will prevent the flavors from soaking in properly.
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5. Cut off the ends of the myoga and slice it in half lengthwise, then thinly slice it.
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6. Cut off the stem of the eggplant and slice it in half lengthwise.
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7. Slice the eggplant thinly on the diagonal.
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8. Place the sliced cucumber, myoga, and eggplant into a resealable bag. If you're concerned about the eggplant's bitterness, you can soak it in water beforehand to remove the acrid taste.
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9. Add 1 tsp of salt to the resealable bag.
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10. Without expelling the air from the bag, gently shake it to distribute the salt evenly without crushing the vegetables. Shaking instead of kneading prevents the vegetable fibers from breaking down.
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11. Tightly expel the air from the bag, then place a pot or other heavy object on top as a weight and let it sit for a while.
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12. Once the vegetables have softened and released their moisture, firmly knead the contents of the bag by hand.
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13. Place the weight back on top and let it sit for a while longer.
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14. To remove excess liquid, squeeze the bag firmly while it's still sealed, ensuring all the water is drained out.
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15. Add 1 tsp of sugar and 2 tbsp of vinegar to the bag with the drained vegetables.
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16. Add the 5cm piece of kombu, after wiping its surface clean.
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17. Gently knead the contents of the bag to distribute the seasonings and kombu evenly.
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18. Expel the air from the bag, then refrigerate until the flavors have fully melded.
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19. Transfer the chilled pickles to a serving container. The kombu will have softened; you can julienne it and mix it in if you like.
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