灰汁あく洗あらい

noun

scouring; washing vegetables in lye

Refers to the traditional process of washing vegetables (especially wild plants) in water mixed with wood ash (lye) to remove bitterness or harshness. Also used more generally for scouring or cleaning with ash-based solutions.

• 山さん菜さいは灰汁あく洗あらいをしてから調ちょう理りする。

  Wild vegetables are scoured with lye before cooking.

• 灰汁あく洗あらいをすると、野や菜さいのえぐみが取とれる。

  Scouring with lye removes the harshness from vegetables.