[The Red Comet] The case where the strawberry dressing was more delicious than I imagined

[Suddenly, do you know about Echigo-hime?]

Yesterday, I drove 20 minutes to buy raw koji.

I went to a local direct sales store called "
Kirakira Market", which carries a lot of vegetables from local farmers.

There were many vegetables lined up, but
since I had received vegetables from my grandmother this morning,
I didn't even look at the vegetables and only put what I needed in my basket.

When I looked around,
many people were buying "strawberries".

Some people were buying several packs by themselves,
so I realized that strawberries are indeed popular.

Here is a question.

"What comes to mind when you think of Niigata specialties??"

"Rice and sake" would likely come up first.

That might be all there is... no, mumble mumble.

But actually, there is one more [hidden specialty].

That is "Echigo-hime"

It is an original variety of strawberry produced in Niigata Prefecture.

About 95% of the production volume is distributed within the prefecture.
So, I imagine those outside the prefecture are not aware of it.

That is why it is also called the "phantom strawberry."

The reason it is not distributed outside the prefecture
lies in its softness.

Echigo-hime is the softest among the varieties distributed in the market.

Being soft means it is "easily damaged" during transport,
which is why it rarely gets distributed outside the prefecture.

Large size
Low acidity
Strong sweetness
Extremely fragrant

It is an excellent strawberry among strawberries, the Echigo-hime.

After buying it, the inside of the car
is enveloped in the scent of strawberries.

It is truly delicious.

I also end up buying it before my own home-grown strawberries are ready.

But,

"You cannot eat it outside the prefecture."

Hehe

When you are told something like that,

you want to eat it, don't you?

If it weren't for this situation,
I would love to invite you to Niigata, but it's a shame.

[Exploring new ways to use strawberries]

Well, strawberries are at their peak in my grandmother's garden.

Even though it's a poor harvest compared to previous years, we can still pick plenty.

I picked some yesterday too, but
before I knew it, the strawberry patch had been enclosed with netting.

When I asked my grandmother,
she said the "tanuki" (raccoon dogs) have finally launched a major offensive.

Eat or be eaten.
A battle against the tanuki.

The other day, I was fighting against this ↓

Anyway, the other day's big strawberry harvest festival.

I spent quite a lot of time playing with strawberries.

I made various things, but
one of them was [strawberry vinegar]

After a few days, the rock sugar has completely dissolved.

This also turned out to be delicious with a sweet and sour finish.

Regarding this strawberry vinegar,
I wonder if it can be used for anything other than drinking.

When I looked it up, it said it could also be used for dressing.

Alright, let's give it a try.

[Strawberry Dressing]

[Ingredients]
Strawberries soaked in strawberry vinegar
Strawberry vinegar
Olive oil
Salt

Mix it with a blender. That's it.

I was measuring it halfway through, but
as I adjusted things, I lost track of the amounts.

Please tell yourself "don't worry about it" in your heart.

At first, I mixed it without the strawberries, but
the bitterness? of the olive oil stood out and it wasn't delicious.

I hurriedly mixed in the strawberries themselves as well.

As a result, the amount increased tremendously (lol)

But, a bright red dressing that looks cute is complete!

The salad is from Grandma's field:
potherb mustard, spinach, radish, and onion.

I'll sprinkle crushed nuts on top to boost the nutrition and texture.

[How does it taste?]

My husband eats it tentatively.

After all, it's my first time seeing a red dressing.

At first, he was like '?'

My husband usually dislikes raw vegetables and eats them reluctantly.

And yet,
he ate the salad heartily,
and even asked for seconds.

According to my husband,
'I didn't really get it at first, but
the more I ate, the more I got hooked.'

This is really something!
The vegetables were delicious too!'}

The [Strawberry Dressing] that even a vegetable-hating husband can eat.

It's cute to look at, and it's sweet, tart, and delicious.

I never thought the sweet aroma and sweet-and-sour taste of strawberries
would go so well with vegetables.

I've discovered the potential of a new dressing.

The colors and the sweet-and-sour taste make my heart flutter.

Precisely because strawberries are only available for a limited time,
it is a good idea to find ways to enjoy them that are only possible now.

Let's enjoy the present.

Kireido

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