In an instant, your lips pucker. You have tasted the rising sun, and it bit back. Umeboshi is a staple Japanese condiment that's rather enigmatic outside of Japan. It's a pickled plum, except that ...

Soak scallops in cold water for 20 minutes. Strain, and pat dry. Remove pits from umeboshi, and mince into a paste. Combine umeboshi with olive oil and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl.

Which brings me to my current hyperfixation: umeboshi paste. Umeboshi paste is made from pickled Japanese plums that are ...