Kumamoto Oysters With Ponzu Granita And Tobiko Recipes

JAPANESE OYSTER SHOOTERS

Steps:

• Whisk mirin, sake, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and wasabi powder together in a bowl. Allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for 2 hours so that the sediment sinks to the bottom of the bowl.
• Shuck oysters and place 2 oysters in each shooter glass.
• Ladle 2 tablespoons of the mirin mixture into each glass, without disturbing the sediment at the bottom. Crack 1 quail egg into each glass. Top each with 1/8 teaspoon tobiko and garnish with lemon wedges. Serve immediately.

KUMAMOTO OYSTERS WITH PONZU GRANITA AND TOBIKO

Steps:

• Make granita:
• Bring kombu and water to a simmer in a small saucepan over moderate heat, then remove from heat and cool completely, about 30 minutes. Discard kombu. Transfer 5 tablespoons kombu broth to a bowl along with remaining granita ingredients and stir until sugar is dissolved. (Reserve remaining broth for another use.)
• Pour granita mixture into an 8-inch metal baking pan and freeze, stirring and crushing lumps with a fork every 20 minutes, until evenly frozen, about 1 hour. Scrape with a fork to lighten texture, crushing any lumps.
• Open oysters and assemble dish:
• Wearing protective glove, hold an oyster, flat side up, and open it at its narrow point with oyster knife. Loosen oyster from top shell with oyster knife if necessary, discarding top shell, then loosen oyster meat within curved bottom shell, keeping it in shell. Discard any loose bits of shell. Arrange oyster on bed of seaweed and repeat with remaining oysters in same manner.
• Top each oyster with a scant 1/4 teaspoon tobiko. Serve granita on the side.