Ming Tsais Three Vinegar Syrup Recipes

SAUTEED CALF'S LIVER WITH FIG-CHINESE VINEGAR SYRUP

Steps:

• Pre-heat hot a large, thick skillet. Season the liver with salt and green peppercorn. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter and sear the liver until brown on both sides, about 8-10 minutes. I prefer my liver medium. Place livers on warm plates. Place skillet back on the heat, add shallots and brown, about 3-5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Add figs and sautee for 1 minute. Deglaze with the vinegars and reduce by 50%. Whisk in butter and check for seasoning. Reserve in a water bath.

MING TSAI'S THREE-VINEGAR SYRUP

Steps:

• In a nonreactive saucepan, combine the vinegars (and star anise, if using) and bring to a simmer over low heat. Continue to simmer until the mixture is reduced by about 80 percent and thickly syrupy, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. (If using the star anise, remove it after the first 30 minutes of cooking.) To test for proper consistency, drizzle a little of the syrup on a chilled plate. It should keep its shape when the plate is tilted. Use or store in refrigerator; will keep for 4 weeks.

OYSTER-CORN FRITTER WITH THREE VINEGAR EMULSION

Steps:

• Whip egg whites to hard peak. In a large stainless steel bowl, mix polenta, milk, oil and egg yolks. Fold in egg whites and corn. Add scallions, chiles, sugar, salt and pepper. Should have a consistency of thick pancake butter. Coat oysters lightly in flour. Dip oysters in batter and deep fry for 3 to 4 minutes until the fritters are GB&D (golden, brown and delicious). Season fritters immediately after frying. Place small mound of salad in the middle of a white plate and surround with fritters. Drizzle plate with emulsion.
• Mix all three vinegars and reduce in a stainless steel pan on low heat. Reduce by 80 percent until a syrup consistency is achieved. Place shallots, syrup, salt and pepper in a blender cup. Blend at high speed while drizzling in the oil. Check for seasoning.

SUSHI 202

Steps:

• For the rice: Wash rice at least 3 times or until water is clear. Fill rice cooker with water to about 1-inch over rice. I highly recommend a rice cooker -- there's a reason more than 2 billion people in Asia use them. Slowly heat vinegar, mirin and sugar until very hot but not boiling. Fold in 'su' (vinegar and sugar) with the hot rice, add enough so that the rice has a tart/sweet taste. Rice should be shiny, not mushy. Carefully clean inside rim of bowl with damp cloth, cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
• For the maki-sushi: In a bowl, whisk together honey, mustard, lemon juice and oil. Add crab, herbs and minced shallot. Season with salt and pepper and check flavor.
• Lay nori, shiny side down on sushi mat and lightly pat on rice on bottom half of nori, 1/4 inch thick. Place crab filling 2/3 up on rice. Roll, moisten end to seal and let rest.
• For the hand rolls: In a bowl, mix flour with togarashi, or chili powder, and whisk in club soda until a pancake batter thickness is achieved. Dip the shrimp and scallions in the tempura batter and fry until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Lay the nori vertically with the shiny side down. Using wet hands, lightly place a 1/4-inch thick layer of rice on the bottom half of the nori. Place one shrimp and scallion fan diagonally across the rice from the top left corner to the bottom right. Lay daikon sprouts on top and add a touch of wasabi oil. Roll a cone by bringing the bottom left corner of the nori to half way up the right side edge then roll over. Moisten the top edge to glue. Repeat process.
• For the plating: On a huge white platter, drizzle soy syrup, wasabi oil, sesame seeds, gari and scallions all over. Slice maki-sushi using both bias and straight cuts. Place hand rolls leaning against sushi.
• In a stainless steel bowl, whisk together wasabi, mirin and sugar. Add water until a loose puree is achieved. Whisk in oil. For extra heat, use less oil.
• Combine all the ingredients and reduce at a simmer until a syrup consistency is achieved, about a 60 to 70 percent reduction. Let cool.

KABOCHA SQUASH AND SHIITAKE WONTONS WITH POMEGRANATE-VINEGAR SYRUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Slice the squash in half and place the halves face-up on a baking sheet. Bake until soft and fork-tender, 35 to 40 minutes. Scrape into a large bowl, add 2 tablespoons of the butter while still warm and mash with a fork until mostly smooth. (Alternatively, you can puree in a food processor.) Allow to cool.
• Meanwhile, in a small saute pan over medium heat, add the oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the garlic and ginger and cook 1 minute to soften. Add the shiitake mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cook until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a plate to cool completely.
• In the bowl containing the squash, fold in the cooled mushroom mixture and remaining 2 tablespoons butter and stir until well blended. Adjust the seasoning as necessary.
• Place 1 wonton wrapper on a work surface with 1 corner nearest you. Place 1 scant tablespoon of the filling in the center of the wrapper, moisten the edges with the egg wash and fold the bottom half over the top to create a triangular dumpling. Bring the left and right sides under the dumpling, moisten the points with the egg wash and pinch together to seal. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.
• Fill a fryer or medium heavy pot one-third full with oil. Over high heat, bring the oil to 350 degrees F on a deep-frying thermometer. Add half the wontons and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove with a large mesh spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining wontons. Season with salt. Transfer to a platter.
• In a small skillet, warm the pomegranate seeds over high heat. Once the pan is hot and the seeds begin to sizzle, add the rum and light with a lighter to flambe. Let the alcohol flames burn off, then pour the seeds over the wontons.
• Drizzle with the Pomegranate-Vinegar Syrup, sprinkle with the chopped chives and serve.
• In a nonreactive saucepan on low heat, add the vinegar and pomegranate seeds. Bring to a simmer and reduce by three-quarters, about 20 minutes. Test the reduction by drizzling a little on a chilled plate; the syrup should hold a line when the plate is tilted.
• Transfer the syrup to a small glass jar and cover when cooled. Store in the refrigerator up to 4 weeks.