Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup chicken stock
  • 3 tablespoons white miso
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons chunky peanut butter
  • 2 teaspoons minced ginger
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 Hawaiian red chile or serrano chile, minced
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons white sesame seeds, toasted
  • Up to 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup finely minced ginger
  • 1/4 cup minced scallions, green part only
  • 1/4 cup peanut oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon dark sesame oil
  • Pinch salt
  • 1/3 cup plus 1 1/4 cups cold water
  • 1/2 clove garlic
  • 2 red Hawaiian chiles or red serrano chiles, or 1 red jalapeno, halved and seeded
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons minced ginger
  • Basil Oil, recipe follows
  • Slivered Scallions, recipe follows
  • Ginger Crusted Onaga, recipe follows
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed spinach leaves
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed fresh basil leaves
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 tablespoon chili pepper water
  • 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • For the basil oil, In a saucepan of boiling salted water, blanch the spinach for 5 seconds. Drain and transfer to an ice bath to cool. Drain again and transfer to a blender. Add the basil, lemon juice, chile pepper water, garlic and oil. Season with salt, place in a blender, and puree; do not over blend as the oil will lose its color. Strain through a very fine sieve or strainer so that the oil is clear and bright green. Store in a glass container in a cool, dark place.
  • Ginger Crusted Onaga
  • 1/2 cup peanut oil
  • 4 (7-ounce) onaga fillets
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup ginger scallion oil
  • 1/2 cup panko, (Japanese bread crumbs)
  • 2 teaspoons butter
  • 1/4 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup enoki mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup corn kernals (from 1 ear of corn)
  • 1/4 cup basil oil
  • 4 teaspoons slivered scallions
  • 2 teaspoons black sesame seeds

Method

  • To prepare vinaigrette, in a bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the rice wine vinegar, the stock, miso, and sugar.
  • In a blender, combine the remaining 1/4 cup of rice wine vinegar, the egg yolks, peanut butter, ginger, garlic chile, and mustard and puree until smooth.
  • With machine running, slowly add the vegetable oil until incorporated, and then slowly add sesame oil.
  • Stir in the sesame seeds.
  • If the mixture seems to thick, add water until the mixture can be poured.
  • Add the blended mixture to the bowl and stir thoroughly.
  • Refrigerate until needed.
  • For the ginger-scallion oil, place the ginger and scallions in a deep mixing bowl.
  • In a small saucepan, heat the peanut oil until just smoking.
  • Slowly pour the hot oil over the ginger and scallion, being very careful as the oil will rise up the sides of the bowl.
  • Add the sesame oil.
  • Season with salt.
  • Keep refrigerated.
  • For the chile pepper water, in a blender combine the 1/3 cup of water, garlic, chiles, vinegar, ginger, and salt and puree until smooth.
  • In a saucepan, bring the 1 1/4 cups water to a boil.
  • Add the pureed mixture and return to a boil.
  • Remove from the heat.
  • When cool, transfer to an airtight container.
  • Keep refrigerated.
  • Bunch scallions, green part only
  • For the slivered scallions, using the back part of a large, sharp knife flatten the green parts of the scallions.
  • Cut very finely on a diagonal so that the slivers are about 1 inch long.
  • For the fish, in a saute pan over high heat, heat the peanut oil until hot.
  • Season the onaga with salt and pepper.
  • When the oil is almost smoking, sear the onaga for about 45 seconds on each side, or until brown.
  • When cool, top the onaga with the ginger-scallion oil (including the solids it contains) and dust on 1 side with the panko.
  • Transfer the onaga to a oven-proof skillet or roasting pan.
  • In a preheated 350 degree oven, bake for 6 minutes, or until tender and cooked through.
  • Meanwhile, in a saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter.
  • Add the mushrooms and saute for 3 to 4 minutes, or until they soften and begin to brown.
  • Add the corn and saute for 2 minutes longer, or until the corn is slightly tender.
  • To serve, divide the Sauteed vegetables among individual plates.
  • Pour 1/2 cup of the vinaigrette around the vegetables and drizzle the basil oil over the vinaigrette.
  • Place the onaga on the vegetables and top with the scallions.
  • Sprinkle the sesame seeds around the plate.