Aug 16-18 Japanese Salad Dressing #2 or JSD #2

Aug 16     Thai fried rice with the leftover chicken from the day before
Aug 17     Dinner out with Kate and Emma
Aug 18     Salad with JPD #2 and take out sushi



I have started to attempt to replicate The Kid's favorite salad dressing from a local restaurant, which we are referring to as the JPD project. JSD #1 was delicious but different than the vinaigrette I am attempting to copy. I had an epiphany one night as I was drifting off to sleep that the key to this salad dressing that was neither oily or super vinegary was that it was made with apple juice.

For our salad today, I tried making a dressing that had basically no oil and although delicious, I have been informed that it is even farther off than the first attempt BUT he also said it was really good and because it has only 1 tsp of sesame oil in the whole batch, it's really healthy and low fat and so I will certainly make this again just for that reason alone. The chunks of apple and carrot give it a really nice texture and I didn't miss the oil at all.



So, I am no closer to replicating the elusive Yumei Sushi salad dressing but I did come up with a delicious, almost oil free dressing that you can eat guilt free so it's still a winner in my books.


JSD #2

3/4 cup of apple juice
1/2 small, sweet apple cut into a very fine dice (you could also coarsely grate it)
1 small carrot, finely grated
1 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp mirin
good pinch of kosher salt

mix all of the ingredients together, mix well and let sit in the fridge for a while to let the flavours develop. It won't last more than a few days in the fridge but because it's so light, you tend to use a lot of it on your salad.

mixed greens of your choice
radishes, sliced super thin on the mandoline or by hand if you insist
cucumber sliced super thin on the same mandoline or by hand
small handful of very fine rice
orange segments

First , put your handful of dried rice noodles in a deep bowl. Bring a kettle of water to a boil and pour the boiling water over the noodles. Let soak for about five minutes before you pour them into a fine strainer and rinse them under cold, running water until they are cool to the touch. Set aside in the strainer until you need them.
Put your greens in a shallow bowl and arrange the radish, cucumber and orange segments on the salad. Place a nest of the noodles in the center of the salad and then pour the desired amount of JSD #2 on top of the salad.