One of the best ways to experience a local culture is food. As we kicked off our Japan Travel series, I am super excited to feature a local recipe for each of the locations we traveled to. Today we are going to have a taste of Hiroshima with their most famous local food – oysters! Today I will bring you this most delicious Grilled Oysters with Ponzu Sauce (牡蠣のポン酢焼き)! And don’t miss out on the Hiroshima Japan Guide if you have yet to read it.
In Hiroshima and Miyajima, the oysters are usually enjoyed cooked rather than raw. If you like the rich, irony taste of oysters, but you don’t care for eating them raw, then today’s recipe is especially for you. For those who enjoy raw oysters, have you tried grilling them? They are equally delicious as fresh raw oysters!
Watch How to Make Grilled Oysters with Ponzu Sauce
Watch my “Grilled Oysters with Ponzu Sauce” video on YouTube
How to Pick Oysters
Oysters are sold all year round, but they are the firmest and sweetest from late fall to spring. At your local fish market or grocery store, look for oysters that feel heavy in the hand and have a deep cup. Make sure they are tightly closed so the brine is kept inside. If the shells are slightly open, tap the oyster gently to make sure it closes its shells when tapped. Don’t get any oysters that don’t close.
Five Types of Oysters – Which One to Choose?
Depending on the location and condition of their cultivation, there are significant differences in the flavor profiles of oysters. In general, Atlantic/Eastern oysters tend to be brinier while Pacific oysters tend to be sweeter when it comes to flavor. Just like any food, it’s all about personal choice. Try out different oysters to see what you like. If you’re new to oysters, start with the sweeter type. The type of oysters I bought at Whole Foods for today’s recipe is called Olde Salts Oysters (Crassostrea Virginicas – #1 below) from Chesapeake Bay, Virginia.
1. Atlantic/Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea Virginicas)
Atlantic/Eastern oysters account for most of the American oyster supply. They tend to be brinier than other oysters, with a thinner, more watery texture. Examples:
Blue Point – from Long Island’s Great South Bay (Today, however, “bluepoint oyster” is often used as a general term for any Atlantic oyster) Alabama Gulf – from Bayou La Batre and Mobile Bay Chesapeake Bay – from Maryland and Virginia Malpeque – from Prince Edward Island Wellfleet – from Cape Cod, Massachusetts
2. European Flats (Ostrea Edulis)
European flats have smooth, round, flat shell with a shallow cup and have a meaty and crunchy texture with a sharp mineral, a bit gamey taste. Examples:
Belons (but not all European flats are Belons as they must be grown in the Brittany region of France)
3. Kumamoto Oysters (Crassostrea Sikamea)
Kumamoto oysters were introduced to Washington in 1947 and became one of the most popular oysters in the US (They were never popular in Japan). Kumamotos spawn later and in warmer water, so they remain firm and sweet even in summer months. They are small and deeply fluted with sharp, pointy shells, and have a sweet taste.
4. Olympia Oysters (Ostrea Lurida or Ostrea Conchapil)
Olympia oysters are the smallest of all the species (about the size of a quarter!) and are the only oyster native to the West Coast. They were so popular during the Gold Rush era and thought to be extinct. However, some wild populations still exist and are protected in the Pacific Northwest. Olympias at the market and in restaurants are cultivated mostly in the Puget Sound, Washington. They have a creamy texture with a sweet and metallic taste.
5. Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea Gigas)
Formerly know as Japanese oysters (as they were brought to the US from the Asian Pacific in the early 1900s), Pacific oysters are the most commonly cultivated oyster on the West Coast. They are small and distinctly more fluted with ruffled edges, and have a sweeter, less briny taste than Atlantic oysters. Examples:
Penn Cove – from Washington State Quilcene – from Washington State Kumamoto – from California and Washington Miyagi – from California and Washington
Three Ways to Enjoy Grilled Oysters with Ponzu Sauce
In Japan, people enjoy grilled oysters in different ways, from a simple squeeze of lemon juice to melted butter with a drizzle of soy sauce. Today I want to show you our family’s favorite way to eat oysters. We personally like it with citrusy ponzu sauce, and here are quick three ways to enjoy oysters with the use of ponzu sauce.
1. Mizore Ponzu Sauce:
Mizore (みぞれ) (‘sleet’ in English) means grated daikon in Japanese cooking terms from its look. For this recipe, I grated both daikon and cucumber to create refreshing garnish. When you pour ponzu sauce over the oysters, it gets dispersed quickly and the flavors meld with the oyster instantly. With the addition of fine texture from the grated daikon, it gives a fresh note to your tongue.
2. Simple Ponzu Sauce with Green Onions
To enjoy ponzu sauce with grilled oysters, a simple garnish of green onions would be just enough, especially a homemade ponzu (YUM!!!).
3. Yuzu Kosho Ponzu with Lemon Slice
Now it’s time to slurp and swoon over these deep-cupped shellfish. If you’re planning a trip to Hiroshima, you know the first food you can eat!
Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for the FREE Just One Cookbook newsletter delivered to your inbox! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and Instagram for all the latest updates.
