In Japanese cuisine, we add carrots of carrots in the shape of slow and warm dishes for the celebratory occasions and the daily home cuisine. Today I will show you both beginner and advanced methods How to cut carrots into forms of flowers—The think, iconic Japanese plum flowers known as Brake (ねじり梅). In reality it is easy to do with a little practice and you will love the way they improve your food presentation!
Watch as I use Nejiri Ume in my recipes Sukiyaki, Shabu Shabu and Chikuzenni (Nishime)!
What is Nejiri Ume?
Brake (ねじり梅) translates into “twisted plum”. We use this decorative cut to carve the plum flowers from carrots to cook in hot pots and flat dishes. Plums in Japan are among the first to bloom in the new year, which appear at the end of January in mid -March, depending on the region. The flowers bloom in winter when time is very cold and symbolizes resilience, perseverance and promise of spring.
Because I love Nejiri Ume (carrot flowers)
- Improves the presentation – Nejiri Ume adds a touch and a fascinating touch to my Japanese cuisine, and I love that it takes only a few minutes to do.
- Has chosen the beginner or advanced method – Carrot coins with a vegetarian cutter for simple flowers or further shape the petals with a knife for an elegant 3D effect. You will quickly master the advanced method with a little practice and patience.
- Versatile for every occasion – These precious flowers of flowers are a popular addition to daily meals such as bento or celebratory dishes for Osechi Ryori (Japanese New Year’s cuisine) and other special parties.
Types of food for decorative flowers
- Carrots (large) for red flowers
- Daikon for white flowers
Find the printable Tutorial with following measurements.
- Vegetable cutter In the shape of a plum flower, which has rounded and smooth petals. On the other hand, cherry blossoms have an affected or divided tip on each petal.
- Knife of sharp cuisine – I recommend a solid chef knife for this task, I use high quality quality Nagomi chef knife Damascus people that you can find a Goods joc. You could also use a file Confess Knife (Japanese vegetable knife) to cut the vegetables.
How to cut carrots into forms of flowers
Method for beginners: plant size
- Crack coins e punch. Peel the carrot and cut it transversely in ¼ inch (6 mm) thick round round. Cut the shapes of flowers with a vegetable size. Your simple flowers are now ready for use.
Advanced method: decorative knife cutting
- Crack coins e punch. Peel the carrot and cut it transversely in the round ½ Inch (1.2 cm) thick. Cut the shapes of flowers with a vegetable size.
- Cut the cracks and the petal. Use the tip of the knife to mark cracks ⅛ inch (3 mm) of depth between the petals, starting from the edge where the petals meet and end up in the center of the flower. Place the knife blade in the middle of a petal and diagonal to the left (if you are right) to the crack, scoring from a thin carrot wedge. Repeat with other petals.
- Repeat with other petals.
Nami’s advice
- Use large carrots – To focus the complete shape of the flower, make sure that the circumference of the carrot is slightly larger than the plant size.
- Cut the quite thick coins – If you cut the too thin shots, you will not have a sufficient thickness to sculpt the petals on both sides of the flower.
- Make the slot shallow – Score between the petals just ⅛ inch (3 mm) of depth. This is only a quarter of the total thickness of the carrot currency. Keep in mind that you will also carve the petals on the back side, so you don’t want to cut too much in depth.
- Shave diagonally towards the crack – It starts from the central line of Petalo and radius a very thin carrot cuneo only on the left side (if you are right like me).
- Reuse carrot waste – Do not throw away the remaining pieces, that I mottained (expensive)! The carrot waste is sincere and I add them to my spaghetti meat sauce, to the Japanese fried rice with Edamame or soups.
How to use carrot flowers (Nejiri Ume)
Frequent questions
We generally create Nejiri with carrots. You can also do daikon no nejiri ume Using the Daikon radish.
You can cut a floral decorative motif on Shiitake mushroom caps with the exclusive Japanese cutting technique called Shiitake Hanagiri.
- Peel 1 carrot. Subsequently, you will need a Vegetable cutter shaped Ume (a Japanese plum flower). Plum flower petals have a rounded and smooth tip, while cherry flowers petals have a tip -digit or divided tip.Suggestion of Nami: Use a large carrot with an equal or slightly larger diameter of the vegetable cut. This ensures you to obtain full and clean decorative shapes every time.
- For the Method for beginnersCut the carrot transversely in coins of about ¼ inch (6 mm) of thickness, just the right thickness for the use of a vegetable cut.For the Advanced methodCut the slightly thicker carrot, about ½ inch (1.2 cm). The extra thickness gives you deeper to sculpt the forms of detailed flowers for Brake.
Method for beginners: plant size
Advanced method: decorative knife cutting
- Point the forms of plum flower with carrot slices using Vegetable cutter. Then, using the tip of a knife, cut small cracks between each pair of petals to define the shape. Suggestion of Nami: I make a deep cut from ⅛ inch (3 mm) among the petals, starting where the petals meet on the edge and stop at the center of the flower.
Now radios the petals to create a more realistic form of flower. Put the knife blade in the center of a petal and slightly angles. If you are right, cut diagonally to the left, rand a thin carrot wedge towards the crack you made before. Repeat with other petals.
This extra carved step may seem boring, but really gives life to the flower, perfect for festive presentations and Osechi plating.
To use decorative flowers
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Note of the editor: This post was originally published on December 24, 2012. It was republished with more useful information on June 29, 2025.
