Japanese Ponzu Sauce With Meyer Lemons

Normally ponzu sauce is traditionally made with yuzu citrus in Japan, but I have an old Meyer lemon tree that produces fabulous lemons throughout the year. I try to use the lemons in many recipes and this is my own version of Ponzu Sauce using Meyer lemons instead of yuzu limes/lemons. Although I planted yuzu tree a year ago it is still not producing yet and when it is finally producing I would also make homemade ponzu sauce using yuzu too, but until then this is the only ponzu sauce I like. You can certainly use any type of lemons or combination lemons and limes/oranges. Unlike commercial based ponzu sauces which are very sweet and more vinegar than real juice, I think this version has much more depth. For 3/4 C juice, I usually end up using 5-6 lemons depending on their sizes. Bonito flakes is known as Katsuobushi in Japanese and it is dried bonito fish flakes found in Japanese markets. If you are unable to find kombu or katsuobushi, please use any instant dashi for this purpose. The taste will not be as good, but it will surpass the overly vinegar/sugar taste of commercial ponzu sauce. If using instant dashi, I would follow the direction on amount per liquid found with the products. Depending on how strong you like the taste of dashi, you can use either 1 to 1 1/2 C bonito flakes for this recipe. Note to those who never tried ponzu: This sauce is very versatile and you can use it top any steamed veggies, fish, meat, or tofu. You can also add a bit of oil to make into traditional salad dressing but go easy on oil!

• Ready In: 15 mins
• Yields: 1 1/8 C

Ingredients

• 1  piece  kombu seaweed (3 x 2 inches) or 1  piece  konbu (3 x 2 inches)
• 1 -1 1⁄2 cup bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
• 3⁄4 cup soy sauce, plus
• 2  tablespoons soy sauce
• 3⁄4 cup lemon juice (see note above)
• 1⁄3 cup mirin, plus
• 1  tablespoon mirin
• 2  teaspoons sugar
• 2  teaspoons rice vinegar

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days to develop taste and strain well after 1 day. If you like more dashi flavor, then keep in refrigerator for 2 to 3 days and strain. I normally like just one day in the refrigerator and strain. The liquid Ponzu Sauce keeps in the refrigerator for 6 months (don't worry, you will use this up very, very quickly). The leftover katsuobushi and kombu after straining can be used to make furikake for later use.