Recipe: Wasabi and Sesame Grilled Chicken

WASABI AND SESAME GRILLED CHICKEN
Servings: 4

Just a mouthful of flavors. Lemon, soy sauce, sesame and Wasabi combine to overwhelm your tastebuds and clear your sinuses.

4 boneless chicken breasts
Sesame Marinade (recipe follows)
3/4 cup Wasabi Sesame Dipping Sauce (recipe follows)

Prepare the marinade according to the recipe. Marinate the chicken for 45-60 minutes at room temperature.

Once the chicken is in the marinade, begin making the Wasabi sesame sauce.

Grill the chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side, on your grill until browned and the meat is firm.

Serve chicken on 4 warm plates with some steamed or fried white rice. Drizzle a little of the sauce over the chicken and serve some on small plates or in a small dipping bowl on the side of each.

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SESAME MARINADEMakes 4 servings

1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup peanut oil
1/4 cup sesame oil
1 tablespoon Mirin, (sweet rice cooking wine)
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon cracked peppercorns
1 tablespoon fresh garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh ginger root, grated
2 scallions, chopped

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir to incorporate. This marinade can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.

For whole birds, like chicken or pheasant, allow at least 3 hours marinating time. For red meat steaks, allow 45-60 minutes.

Use the marinade to baste meats on the grill for a moist, more flavorful product.

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WASABI SESAME DIPPING SAUCE
Makes 4 servings

2 tablespoons Wasabi powder or Japanese horseradish powder
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Mix the Wasabi powder with enough cold water to make a stiff paste. Let it mature for 30 minutes to develop its heat.

Whisk in the soy sauce, oil, and lemon juice. Add the sesame seeds just before serving.

Serve the sauce on flat plates so your guests can roll their food in it, Japanese style.

Note: You can adjust the heat of this sauce simply by adding or subtracting the Wasabi paste.