Ponzu Recipes

SIMPLE PONZU SAUCE

Steps:

• Stir sugar and 1 Tbsp. warm water in a small bowl to dissolve sugar. Stir in lime juice, mirin, soy sauce, and vinegar.

HOMEMADE PONZU SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk together juice, vinegar, soy sauce, mirin and brown sugar. Let sit at least 1 hour to marry flavors. Store covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days.

PONZU SALMON

Steps:

• For the sauce:.
• Use a zester to remove the colorful outer rind from the grapefruit, the orange and the lime; save the zest on the side.
• If you don't have a zester, use a vegetable peeler to remove the rind, then cut it into julienne strips with a sharp knife.
• Juice the fruits and combine the juices.
• Put the sugar in a dry pan over medium-high heat and swirl the pan until the sugar has begun to dissolve; it will be caramel-colored.
• Pour in the fruit juice and step back because the mixture will boil and steam rapidly before settling into a steady boil.
• Boil for about 2 minutes, swirling the pan now and then to dissolve the caramelized sugar.
• When the caramelized sugar has dissolved, add the soy sauce and vinegar.
• Drop in half of the citrus zest that was set aside before the fruits were juiced and continue boiling the sauce for 2 or 3 minutes, or until it is slightly thickened.
• The zest may be left in or strained out.
• Serve the sauce warm or at room temperature.
• For the Salmon: Rinse the salmon fillets, pat them dry and sprinkle with the sea salt.
• Put a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and allow the pan to preheat for 1 minute.
• Put the oil in the pan; it should be almost smoking-hot.
• Put the salmon skinned-side-up into the pan and allow the salmon to cook undisturbed for 4 to 5 minutes or until a crisp brown crust has formed on the underside of the fish.
• Turn the fillets and cook 5 minutes longer or until fish is just cooked through.
• Make a puddle of ponzu sauce in the center of four plates and plant the pan-seared fish fillets on top.
• Garnish the fish with reserved zest from a grapefruit, an orange and a lime.

ORANGE PONZU

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, bonito shavings, konbu and the orange quarters. Let stand for 30 minutes.
• Bring to a boil. Just as it starts to boil, remove from the heat. Allow to cool, then strain through a cheesecloth lined sieve.

BEST AUTHENTIC PONZU SAUCE

Steps:

• Juice the yuzu (or other citrus - see note). Refrigerate the juice and keep the rinds/seeds for the next step.
• Combine all the dashi base ingredients in a pot that's large enough to hold everything, but still small enough to allow the liquid to submerge most of the solids. Cover, and let stand for 24 hours.
• Combine the sake, mirin, and rice vinegar in a small pot, then stir in the sugar. Place on the stovetop and bring to a gentle boil for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Add the Day 1 ingredients to the pot and continue to heat gently, bringing the mixture to a very gentle simmer for about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
• Add the yuzu juice and tamari to the mixture. Mix gently, cover, and let stand overnight.
• Pour the finished ponzu through a fine sieve or strainer to remove all of the solids. Squeeze as much liquid out of the mushrooms as possible. Discard the solids (see note), and skim off any foam or small bits that make it through the strainer.
• Adjust to taste, if necessary, with tamari, sugar, and/or komezu (rice vinegar).Bottle and refrigerate for up to a month.

PONZU SAUCE FOR DIPPING

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a bowl and let stand 24 hours. Strain through a cheesecloth and store up to 3 months in a cool, dark place, or in the refrigerator.

JAPANESE PONZU SAUCE (WITH VARIATIONS)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Combine mirin, vinegar, soy sauce, and bonito flakes in a saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium heat.
• Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Pour sauce through a strainer into a bowl and discard bonito flakes. Add yuzu juice. This recipe appears in Asian Grilling, by Su-Mei Yu, reprinted with permission.