Pickled Perilla Leaf - The Local Palate

Ingredients

• 20 to 30 perilla leaves
• 1 cup mirin
• 1 cup sake
• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 Fresno pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon gochugaru (or red chili flakes)
• 1 cup light soy sauce (Harthausen usesYamasa)
• 1 cup dashi or water
• 1 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
• ½ cup of honey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 peppercorns
• Toasted sesame seeds for garnish
• Crushed and toasted pine nuts for garnish
• Steamed white rice for servin