Japanese Condiment "Ponzu"

    This is dinner one day. I was not that hungry, so I made a light meal.

center:
dried Hokke and grated Japanese radish

upper left: boiled okura

upper right: pickles

lower left: rice

lower right: miso soup

   This is Japanese food, "Washoku: 和食". There are many kinds of food in Japan, we eat not only "Washoku" but also various country of dishes every day, for example, Itarian food, Korean food, Chinese food, Thai food, Western food etc. But I feel so good when I eat "Washoku" because I have eaten it since I was a child.  

  By the way, I introduce you "Ponzu: ポン酢" today. A lot of families in Japan have "Ponzu" in their fridges. I use it almost every day. 

   

This Ponzu is in my fridge.

      When I had dinner of the top picture, I poured "Ponzu" on grated Japanese radish, and ate dried Hokke with grated Japanese radish with "Ponzu". Grated Japanese radish with "Ponzu" goes well with oily food.

    "Ponzu" looks like soy sauce but taste is salty and sour. I often pour "Ponzu" on Tofu, oyster, salad. Then when we eat "Shabu shabu*", we dip meat or boiled vagetables in "Ponzu." Japanese people use "Ponzu" when we want to feel refreshing. I think it is the same as you squeeze lemons.

*"Shabu shabu" is a type of Japanese hot pot.

    If you can't get "Ponzu", you can make it easily. 

    Ingredients
   ・1 table spoon soy sauce  　                    ・1 table spoon vinegar
 ・1 table spoon mirin　　　        　           ・a few drops lemon

    

Please mix all the ingredients. It tastes like "Ponzu." If you can't get mirin, it is OK without it. Please try it!