Inside Market Hall

You Need Yuzu!

30 May 2012

Yuzu Products from Hotaru Foods

Over the past decade, we've watched yuzu evolve from an esoteric ingredient found only on Japanese menus, to something celebrated by The New York Times as "the darling of chefs." The piquant flavor of this prized Japanese citrus is best described as a happy marriage between a Meyer lemon and a tangerine, with a little grapefruit action on the side. Sweet, fragrant and tart - it is increasingly claiming its place on the American palate in everything from cocktails to sorbets.

Yuzu Mayonnaise

Our most recent and exciting yuzu product discovery is Yuzu Mayo - a thick, rich, whole egg Japanese-style mayonnaise in a squeeze tube. Made from fresh eggs, pure yuzu juice and soybean oil, this preservative-free mayonnaise is absolutely luscious with a bright pop of citrus.

Yuzu Mayo is perfect anywhere you would use traditional mayonnaise. Make your own tartar sauce combining Yuzu Mayo, finely diced cornichon pickles and shallots. It makes a delicious binder for crab cakes, and a spectacular ingredient in tuna salad, egg salad or coleslaw. Fried fish sandwiches and shrimp po-boys will sparkle with a generous shmear of Yuzu Mayo on toasted levain. Moreover, there is nothing better than using Yuzu Mayo as a simple yet sumptuous dip for steamed artichokes.

One of our colleagues was so inspired by Yuzu Mayo, she used it as a substitute for oil in a Yuzu Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake. Yes...mayonnaise cake (download recipe online). Yuzu Mayo adds luscious flavor, texture and a delightful citrus sparkle in the background. You have to taste this cake to believe how good it is.

Yuzu Pao Chile Sauce - New and Improved Sriracha

We agree that Sriracha, the cult classic hot sauce from Thailand, can provide "the secret something" in many recipes - but then we tasted Yuzu Pao Red Chile Sauceand Yuzu Pao Green Chile Sauce. The addition of both yuzu juice and yuzu zest brings a cool fruity edge to the savory depth and spicy heat of these Sriracha-style hot sauces.

Yuzu Pao Red Chile Sauce has a delightful contrast of spicy sun-kissed red chiles and sour citrus. Combine it with a little soy sauce and ground ginger for an incredible dipping sauce. Add a splash to egg salad. Also try substituting Yuzu Pao Red Chile Sauce for horseradish in an updated Bloody Mary!

Yuzu Pao Green Chile Sauce emphasises the complex fruitiness of both the green chile and the yuzu citrus, without skimping on background heat. Use it anywhere you would use green chile hot sauce or tomatillo salsa: from your eggs in the morning to late night nachos. It adds striking flavor to salad dressings. Spicy Yuzu Coleslaw is the perfect summertime side dish for grilled poultry, seafood and meats.