sunomono

Sunomono, meaning "vinegared thing," is a category of Japanese salads or pickles featuring vegetables, most often cucumber, dressed with a sweet-sour vinegar dressing. It is commonly served as a light side dish in meals and is especially popular in summer.

Traditional sunomono starts with cucumbers that are thinly sliced and lightly salted to draw out moisture, then drained. Other ingredients such as wakame seaweed, shrimp, octopus, or imitation crab (kani) are sometimes added. The dressing is typically a mix of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt; some recipes include a dash of soy sauce, mirin, or lemon juice.

To assemble, cucumber is combined with the dressing and any add-ins, then chilled before serving. The dish is often garnished with sesame seeds or chopped scallions, and sometimes served with a light splash of sesame oil.

Variations include mizu sunomono, which uses wakame and cucumber in a lighter, more watery dressing, and seafood-heavy versions that appear in sushi restaurants and bento boxes. Some regional styles prefer a more pronounced sweetness or saltiness.

Sunomono reflects Japanese tastes for refreshing, palate-cleansing dishes that balance richness with acidity. It is widely available in homes, restaurants, and bento boxes.