Refreshing Tomato Ohitashi: A Sweet & Savory Summer Appetizer
Simple & Delicious Summer Delight: Tomato Ohitashi Recipe
Beat the summer heat with this incredibly easy appetizer – a delightful blend of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors, served chilled. Forget the hassle of boiling and cooling soy sauce mixtures; we’re using convenient store-bought mentsuyu (Japanese dipping sauce) to minimize time spent in the kitchen. This recipe is perfect for those days when your appetite needs a little boost!
Ingredients- 6 cherry tomatoes
- 2 perilla leaves (shiso)
- 20g mentsuyu (Japanese dipping sauce)
- 70g water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Begin by thoroughly washing 6 cherry tomatoes under cool running water and patting them dry. Rinse 2 perilla leaves (also known as shiso) and gently shake off excess water.
Step 2
Make a shallow cross-shaped incision (‘X’) on the bottom of each cherry tomato, opposite the stem. This will make peeling much easier later on.
Step 3
Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Carefully add the cherry tomatoes with the cross incisions and blanch for about 10 seconds. Be careful not to overcook, as they can become too soft.
Step 4
Immediately remove the tomatoes from the boiling water and plunge them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Once cooled, gently peel the skin starting from the incised ‘X’. The skin should slip off easily.
Step 5
Finely shred the washed and dried perilla leaves. Aim for very thin slivers to ensure they integrate well with the tomatoes and sauce.
Step 6
Prepare the flavorful sauce. In a small bowl, combine 20g of mentsuyu and 70g of water. Stir well until thoroughly mixed.
Step 7
Place the peeled cherry tomatoes into an airtight container. Pour the prepared mentsuyu sauce over the tomatoes, ensuring they are well coated. Cover the container and refrigerate for at least 3 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the tomatoes to chill. For an even richer taste, you can let it marinate overnight.
Step 8
Once chilled, arrange the marinated tomatoes and their sauce in a serving dish. Garnish generously with the finely shredded perilla leaves. Your refreshing and flavorful Tomato Ohitashi is ready to serve, offering a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory notes to awaken your palate!
