Homemade Ponzu Sauce
12
- Makes3/4 cup
(Photo: Roberto Caruso)
Meet soy's sassy cousin! Citrusy, sweet, sour and salty, it’s a breeze to whip up and makes everything from chicken to rice pop with vibrant flavours
Ingredients
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tbsp mirin
2 tsp granulated sugar
1 tsp instant dashi powder
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tbsp lime juice
Instructions
COMBINE soy with mirin, sugar and dashi in a small saucepan. Set over medium and bring to a boil. Whisk until sugar and dashi dissolve. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon and lime juices. Use right away or pour into a jar. It will keep well, refrigerated, up to a month.
Nutrition (per tbsp)
Calories 12, Carbohydrates 3g, Sodium 342mg.
Shopping tips
Mirin is sweet cooking wine made from rice. You can substitute 2 tsp maple syrup mixed with 1 tsp rice vinegar.
Dashi is a soup and cooking stock used in Japanese cuisine. Instant dashi powder is available at most Asian supermarkets.
Variations
Orange-Lemon Ponzu
Reduce sugar to 1/2 tsp. Reduce lemon juice to 2 tbsp and replace lime juice with 1/4 cup orange juice. Continue with recipe.
Orange-Lime Ponzu
Reduce sugar to 1/2 tsp. Reduce lime juice to 2 tbsp and replace lemon juice with 1/4 cup orange juice. Continue with recipe.
Four ways to use it
Citrusy white fish Bake sole or tilapia fillets at 450F for 8 min. Drizzle with Homemade Ponzu Sauce and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.
Perfect marinade Marinate bone-in skin-on chicken pieces in Orange-Lime Ponzu. Cover and bake at 375F until cooked through, 30 min. Serve with any juices.
Saucy sesame eggplant Heat a large non–stick frying pan over medium- high. Add 1 tbsp each dark sesame oil and vegetable oil, then 2 Japanese eggplants cut diagonally into 1/4-in. slices. Cook until golden, about 4 min per side. Transfer to a plate and drizzle with 2 to 3 tbsp Orange-Lemon Ponzu, sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
Savoury mayo Stir 1/2 cup light mayo with 2 tbsp Homemade Ponzu Sauce, 1 minced garlic clove and 1 tsp grated fresh ginger. Serve with baked sweet potato wedges, chicken, fish or crudités.
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