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Yaki Shiitake Ponzu-zoe (Grilled Shiitake With Ponzu Dressing)

By Hiroko Shimbo
A serving plate with grilled shiitake mushrooms and ponzu sauce.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Greg Lofts

When I find fresh large, plump donko shiitake mushrooms in the market, I simply broil them with a little sake and serve them with grated daikon and ponzu dressing. This is the simplest and the most appealing way to enjoy the true flavor of fresh shiitake mushrooms.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    45 minutes

  • Yield

    Serves 4 as a side dish

Ingredients

For the ponzu dressing

3 Tbsp. komezu (rice vinegar)
2½ Tbsp. mirin
2 Tbsp. yuzu juice (or substitute lemon juice)
5 Tbsp. shoyu (soy sauce)
6 Tbsp. dashi

For the mushrooms

16 large fresh shiitake mushrooms, preferably donko
About 3 Tbsp. sake
⅓–½ cup grated daikon
1 yuzu or lemon rind, julienned (for garnish)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    First, make the ponzu dressing. In a small saucepan, combine rice vinegar, mirin, yuzu juice, shoyu, and dashi, and bring them to a boil over medium heat. Turn off the heat, and let the mixture cool. Store ponzu dressing in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to a week.

    Step 2

    Clean the mushrooms with a moist cotton cloth. Cut away and discard the stems. Heat a broiler or grill.

    Step 3

    Place the mushroom caps on a broiler pan or grill rack, gill side down if you’re using a broiler or gill side up if you’re using a grill. Place the pan or rack close to the heat. Cook the mushrooms until the tops of the caps are dry. Turn over the mushrooms, and cook them until the insides become wet with the mushrooms’ own juice. If you’re using a grill, turn over the mushrooms again. Spoon ½ teaspoon sake into each cap. Cook the mushrooms until the sake is bubbling.

    Step 4

    Serve the mushrooms garnished with grated daikon and yuzu or lemon rind strips, and accompanied with ponzu dressing on the side.

Image may contain: Food
Reprinted from The Japanese Kitchen by Hiroko Shimbo with permission from Harvard Common Press. Buy the full book from Amazon.
TagsSakeAlcoholBeveragesJapaneseEast AsianAsianDaikonRoot VegetableVegetableYuzuCitrusFruitLemonShiitake MushroomMushroomStarterDinnerDairy FreeGluten FreeNut FreeVegetarianVeganEasyMeal PrepWeeknight MealsQuickBroilGrillingCookbooks

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