Thin slices of sweet pickled ginger; perfect to cleanse your palate and enjoy alongside sushi, sashimi and so much more. “Gari”, as it is known in Japan, is for ginger lovers, who enjoy the flavour and warmth this delicious plant has to offer.
Why we love this recipe:
In 2019, I was lucky enough to visit Japan for the first time. During my stay, my delightful host taught me how to make this Easy Pickled Ginger. I am so pleased to share this recipe with you all now.
I have always enjoyed eating ginger with my sushi and sashimi. What I learnt while I was in Japan, was that the ginger is meant to be enjoyed in between sushi, to cleanse the palate.
This is an easily prepared recipe, and I love to keep a jar of it in the fridge.
Best of all, this recipe contains only natural ingredients. A lot of store bought Pickled Ginger contain preservatives, artificial sweeteners and colours. And truly, they do not taste anywhere near as good as our homemade Gari!
What is ginger?
Ginger is one of my favourite flavour boosters. I use it fresh or dried – both have their place in the kitchen. Many people also believe in the health benefits of ginger, and take it in supplement form as well as enjoying it in food.
It is known to improve digestion, and is a good source of antioxidants.
Ginger is a flowering plant, and from the same family as galangal and turmeric.
Ingredients in this recipe:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
Fresh, young ginger: Use the freshest, youngest ginger you can find. The older the ginger, the more fibrous it will be.
New ginger rhizomes are the best to use – however, not always easy to find. My local fruit shop has young ginger at the moment though, and it works very well in this recipe!
Rice wine vinegar: My preference of vinegar for Gari, this has a delicate flavour which works so well.
Sugar: I used regular white sugar, however you could also use caster/superfine sugar.
Salt: We use kosher salt or coarse kitchen salt (not table salt) to help soften the ginger.
Water: Although only a small amount of water is used briefly in this recipe, I still recommend using filtered/un-chlorinated water for the best taste.
Step by Step instructions:
Start by sterilising your jar or jars (see how to do this below).
- Using a spoon, peel the ginger.
- Remove any brown spots left on ginger.
- Using a vegetable peeler or mandolin on a super-thin setting, slice pieces of ginger.
- Put salt on ginger, and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Pour boiling water on the ginger and sit for a further 2 minutes.
- Drain water, and squeeze excess liquid from the ginger. Set aside to drain further on some paper towel.
- Prepare your pickling liquid.
- Place your ginger in your sterilised jars.
- Pour the pickling liquid on top. Seal the jar, and allow to cool on your kitchen bench for 30 minutes, before placing in the refrigerator.
Tips for success and FAQs:
As I mentioned under the ingredients list, use the youngest ginger you can find. It is seasonal, but definitely worth sourcing for this recipe.
When making your own pickles and preserves, always ensure you are sterilising the jars you will store them in. This is very simple to do:
- Choose glass jars with an airtight, metal lid and ensure they have been washed by hand in hot soapy water then rinsed well.
- Check that the metal lids do not have rubber inserts.
- Preheat the oven to 130 Degrees C (270 F) and leave the jars for 15-20 minutes.
Absolutely – this recipe can be adapted to make a smaller or larger batch, depending on the quantity you require.
When prepared and stored correctly, the ginger will last in the fridge for 6 months.
The tender flesh of young ginger is preferable in this recipe. It is also much milder in flavour than mature ginger. I would recommend using only young ginger for this recipe.
More delicious recipes for you to try:
This Easy Japanese Pickled Ginger makes a fantastic edible gift. Take a jar with you next time you’re visiting family or friends. For some more great edible gift ideas, be sure to check out these:
- Homemade Pickled Jalapenos
- Preserved Chillies in Oil
- Dill Pickled Cucumbers
- Apricot Jam
- Plum Jam
- Fresh Peach Chutney
- Sweet Chilli Sauce
- Balsamic Glaze
- Pickled Daikon
- Beetroot Pickled Turnips
Enjoy the delicious, refreshing flavour of this Japanese Pickled Ginger. I hope you’ll love the fresh taste, perfect as a palate cleanser. Be sure to let me know in the comments below when you try it.
Alex xx
Easy Pickled Ginger (Gari)
Equipment
- 1 x 8 ounce/250 ml Jar
Please note:
For accuracy, when weights are provided, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results. All oven temperatures listed are for fan forced.
Ingredients
For the Ginger:
- 200 g (7 oz) fresh young ginger See Note 1
- 2 teaspoon coarse sea salt See Note 2
- boiling water, to cover the ginger
Pickling Liquid:
- ¼ cup (60 g) caster/superfine sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml) rice wine vinegar See Note 3
- ¼ cup water See Note 4
Instructions
To Sterilise your Jars:
- Sterilise the jar or jars you'll be using to store the ginger.Choose glass jars with an airtight, metal lid and ensure they have been washed by hand in hot soapy water then rinsed well. Check that the metal lids do not have rubber inserts. Preheat the oven to 130 Degrees C (270 F) and place the jars in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
For the Pickled Ginger:
- Using a spoon, peel the ginger. Remove any brown spots left on ginger.
- Using a vegetable peeler or mandolin on a super-thin setting, slice pieces of ginger.
- Put salt on ginger, stir and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
- Pour boiling water on the ginger (just enough to cover) and sit for a further 2 minutes.
- Drain water, and squeeze excess liquid from the ginger. Set the ginger aside to drain further on some paper towel.
- Prepare your pickling liquid by placing the water, rice wine vinegar and sugar in a non-reactive saucepan.On a medium heat, stir to dissolve the sugar. Increase heat, and boil for 30 seconds.
- Place your ginger pieces into the sterilised jars.Pour the pickling liquid on top.
- Seal the jar, and allow to cool on your kitchen bench for 30 minutes, before placing in the refrigerator.Can be eaten once cooled, but I prefer to enjoy about 24 hours after preparing to let the flavours develop.
Notes
- Use the freshest, youngest ginger you can find. The older the ginger, the more fibrous it will be. If you can find new ginger rhizomes, these are the very best to use! For this recipe, I have used young ginger.
- Ensure you use cooking salt or kosher, as regular table salt may contain anti-caking agents and is much stronger.
- I have used rice wine vinegar in this recipe, and this is my preference, but some people have also tried using apple cider vinegar.
- It is essential to use filtered/un-chlorinated water when pickling or preserving. (You don’t want the bad taste of the water to affect the final product!)
- Please note, the nutritional information is based on the entire jar, and you will not be consuming the brine.
Nutrition Estimate:
Nutritional Disclaimer:
The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Julia
Hi Alex,
Love this easy recipe.
I make a double batch and gift one batch to my Mum who is a huge ginger fan.
It is so much better than store bought (during the past year, I have been trying to make more things from scratch!)
Over the summer, I will try some of your other pickle recipes with produce from the garden.
Thanks! Julia
Alexandra
Thanks, Julia – that is great to hear. And I am a big believer in making things from scratch when possible.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts on the other pickles!
Tiffini
Hello! What size canning jar did you use?
Alexandra
Hi Tiffini,
1 x 8 ounce/250 ml Jar
Thanks, Alex
peter aylmore
do you put salt on every slice , or if not , does the salt on the few top layer pieces not have a concentrated effect just on a couple of slices. ?
Alexandra
Hi Peter, no need to salt every slice individually. Just add the salt and give the ginger a quick stir.
Hope that helps!
Toni
Thank you so much for this! I enjoyed the flavor!
Alexandra
Hello Toni, I am so pleased that you enjoyed the Pickled Ginger and appreciate that you took the time to let me know. 🙂
Melissa B
Can the jars be stored non-refrigerated until they are opened?
Alexandra
Hi Melissa,
For safety reasons, we recommend storing the jars in the fridge after they have cooled for 30 minutes on the kitchen bench.
Thanks, Alex
Magali
Thank you for the recipe. How long does it keep in your opinion?
Alexandra
Hi Magali,
I keep mine in the fridge for up to 6 months. (But it usually doesn’t last that long – we use it on so many things!)
Kind regards, Alex
Brock
Really good and easy!
Alexandra
Thank you!
Arianne
Delicious.
Alexandra
Thank you!
Dana
I didn’t realize how simple making my own pickled ginger was! I was able to make this and enjoy it later that day 🙂
Alexandra
Hi Dana, I am delighted that you enjoyed the Pickled Ginger, thank you for letting me know. 🙂
Isabelle
True story… my favourite thing about ordering sushi is actually the little pile of pickled ginger on the side. I’m totally excited about the idea of making my own, because then I’ll be able to enjoy it with pretty much everything and not just the occasional sushi lunch. Thanks for the recipe!
Alexandra
Hi Isabelle, I am delighted that you will make the pickled ginger; it is so easy and there are so many ways to use it. Enjoy!! 🙂