Recipe: Gomae dressing

When I go out for sushi, I love to get a side order of spinach gomae.  The slightly spicy mix of sesame and soy hits me just right, and my regular spot is generous with the dressing, so I also use it to dip my sushi.  Now that I have a recipe, I make it and use it however I please - despite the fact there is no oil in it, it works really well as a light salad dressing.  Remember to give it a good shake or stir before using it as the solids tend to collect at the bottom of the container.

You will need:

250ml / 1C                       mirin

250ml / 1C                       sake

250ml / 1C                       soy sauce

200ml / 6.8fl oz                sesame seeds

60ml / 1/4C                      wasabi

1 "knuckle"                      fresh ginger

Method:

 - put the mirin and sake in a pot, heat it, ignite it and burn off the alcohol, then cool

 - toast the sesame seeds, then cool

 - blend the sesame seeds fine in a blender

 - grate the ginger on a Microplane

 - put the wasabi, ginger, and sesame seeds in a bowl, then use the soy sauce and a whisk to make a paste

 - gradually whisk in the mirin and sake

 - use as needed