Duck Lorange Tempura Sushi Roll Recipes

TEMPURA

Steps:

• Combine the dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Then, lower the heat and let it simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Follow these instructions to straighten the shrimp, so it looks gorgeous. Pat the shrimp dry and make sure the moisture is completely removed from the shrimp.
• Cut all the vegetables (except the eggplant) ¼-inch thick. For the eggplant, cut off and discard the stem and calyx, then cut it in half lengthwise. With the cut side flat on the cutting board, cut the eggplant lengthwise into very thin slices (about ⅛ inch or 3 mm), being careful to leave the bottom tip intact by 1 inch (2.5 cm) so the slices stay connected. Then, gently press down on the slices to fan them out. Repeat with the other eggplant half.
• In a medium-sized pot, heat 1½ inches to 2 inches (3-5 cm) of the oil to 350°F (180°C).
• While the oil is heating up, start preparing the tempura batter. Add the egg and the iced water into a 2-cup measuring cup (or any bowl). Whisk the egg mixture vigorously and discard the foam on the surface.
• Sift the flour into a large bowl. Slowly pour the egg mixture into the flour. Mix the batter, but do not overmix; it's okay to leave some lumps in the batter. Keep the batter cold at all times (store it in the refrigerator if needed). Make the batter right before deep-frying to avoid activating the wheat gluten.
• Check the oil temperature with a thermometer to make sure the oil is 350°F (180°C). You can also use wooden chopsticks to check; when you dip your chopsticks in the oil and see small bubbles forming, it's ready for deep-frying. Please note that sweet potatoes and kabocha require a lower cooking temperature (320ºF/160℃). If you want to read more deep-frying tips, please read this post.
• Deep-fry starting with the cleaner and less astringent ingredients. For example, the cooking order would be shiso first, followed by the mushrooms, eggplant, shrimp, sweet potatoes, and kabocha. Make sure your ingredients are dry before dipping them in the batter; if they're wet, dry them with a paper towel first. While the tempura is frying, the moisture from the ingredients will evaporate and the tempura will become crispy. However, if the ingredients have extra moisture, the tempura will become soggy after deep-frying.
• When the oil reaches the right temperature, dip one piece of vegetable or shrimp in the batter, let the excess drip off for a second or two, and very gently place it into the hot oil. Continue dipping and adding one piece at a time. For the shrimp, sprinkle some flour or potato starch (or cornstarch) over it before dipping to help the tempura batter adhere. For the shiso leaves, sprinkle a bit of sifted flour on the back of the leaf, dip only the back of the leaf into the batter, and deep-fry for 15 seconds. The flour acts as a glue and the batter tends to stay on the ingredients better.
• Deep-fry the ingredients until golden brown. Do not crowd the pot because the oil temperature will drop quickly. Remember, your ingredients should take up no more than about half of the oil surface area at any one time. Here's the rough cooking time for each of the ingredients: Shiso (350ºF/180ºC, 20-30 seconds), mushrooms (350ºF/180ºC, 1 min), eggplant (350ºF/180ºC, 1 min), shrimp (350ºF/180ºC, 2 minutes), sweet potatoes (320ºF/160℃, 3 mins), and kabocha (320ºF/160℃, 2-3 mins). Note that sweet potatoes and kabocha require a lower cooking temperature than the rest of the tempura ingredients.
• Transfer the tempura to a wire rack or a plate lined with a paper towel to drain the excess oil.
• Between batches, clean the oil by scooping up the crumbs (called tenkasu), which will burn and turn the oil darker if left in the pot.
• Grate the daikon and squeeze the liquid out. Prepare 3-4 Tbsp of warm tentsuyu in individual small bowls and serve the grated daikon on the side.
• Put 1 Tbsp of the grated daikon in the sauce and dip the tempura in the sauce to enjoy.
• You can keep any leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and in the freezer for 2 weeks. Reheat the tempura at 350ºF (180ºC) in the oven until warm and crisp.

DRAGON ROLLS

Steps:

• Gather all the ingredients.
• Cut the cucumber lengthwise into quarters. Remove the seeds and then again cut in half lengthwise into thin strips. You will have 8 strips.
• Cut an avocado in half lengthwise around the pit and twist the two halves until they separate. Use a spoon to remove the pit. Alternatively, you can remove the pit with your knife, but you must take great care not to use too much force or you could cut your hand. First, hold the avocado half in your palm; it's best to hold it with a folded kitchen towel to protect your hand. Next, very gently tap the heel of your knife into the pit with just enough pressure that the knife embeds in the pit. Then, twist the knife and the pit will come out smoothly. Repeat with the remaining avocado.
• Remove the skin and thinly slice the avocado halves crosswise.
• Gently press the avocado slices with your fingers so the individual slices begin to slide and separate. Keep pressing gently and evenly with the side of the knife until the length of the sliced avocado half is about the length of a sushi roll (or a sheet of nori seaweed.) If you don't serve the sushi roll right away, I recommend squeezing lemon over the avocado to prevent discoloration. Repeat with the other avocado halves.
• Line the bamboo mat with plastic wrap and place half of the nori sheet on top, shiny side down. Dip your hands in the tezu (vinegar water) and spread ½ cup sushi rice over the nori sheet.
• Flip over the nori sheet with the rice on it. Place two pieces of the shrimp tempura, two cucumber strips, and some tobiko at the bottom end of the nori sheet closest to you.
• From the bottom end, start rolling the nori sheet over the filling tightly and firmly with the bamboo mat until the bottom edge reaches the nori sheet. Lift the bamboo mat and roll over the remaining nori.
• Place the bamboo mat over the top and tightly squeeze the roll.
• Remove the bamboo mat and plastic wrap from the sushi roll. Using the side of the knife, lift the avocado slices from one half and place them on top of the roll. If you'd like to use unagi, alternate avocado and unagi slices and layer them to cover the top and sides of the roll.
• Replace the plastic wrap over the roll and put the bamboo mat over the top. Tightly squeeze the roll through the bamboo mat until the avocado slices wrap around the roll. Be gentle so you don't break the avocado slices. Remove the mat.
• Cut the roll through the plastic wrap into 8 pieces with the knife. Clean your knife with a wet towel after each cut. If the roll gets messy while cutting, tightly squeeze the sushi roll again with the bamboo mat. Remove the plastic wrap on top of the sushi and transfer the sushi pieces to a serving plate. Repeat to make the remaining rolls.
• Put some tobiko on each piece of sushi and drizzle spicy mayo and sprinkle black sesame seeds on top. If you'd like, place some unagi sauce on the plate so you can dip the sushi. Enjoy!

CHICKEN TEMPURA ROLLS

Steps:

• In large bowl, wash rice in several changes of cold water until water is clear. Transfer to a large saucepan; add 2 cups water. Let stand for 30 minutes., Cover saucepan and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cook for 15-20 minutes or until water is absorbed and rice is tender. Remove from the heat. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes., Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine the vinegar, sugar and salt, stirring until sugar is dissolved., Transfer rice to a shallow bowl; sprinkle with 1/3 cup vinegar mixture. Set aside remaining vinegar mixture for assembly. With a wooden paddle or spoon, stir rice with a slicing motion until cooled. Cover with a damp cloth to keep moist. (Rice mixture may be made up to 6 hours ahead and stored at room temperature, covered, with a damp towel. Do not refrigerate.), Bake chicken according to package directions; cool. Cut into long thin strips. In a large bowl, combine the juice concentrate, soy sauce, ginger, pepper flakes and oil; set aside 1/2 cup for serving. Add chicken to remaining orange mixture; toss to coat., Cover the sushi mat with plastic wrap. Spread 1/4 cup almonds in an even layer over plastic wrap to a 9-in. x 6-in. rectangle. Moisten hands with reserved vinegar mixture; press rice in a thin even layer over almonds., Arrange a small amount of chicken mixture, green onion, red pepper and orange strips about 1-1/2 in. from bottom edge of rectangle. Holding the bamboo mat, roll the rectangle away from you, being careful to enclose the filling with rice. Use the mat to help you squeeze the roll into a compact log. Remove mat; set tempura roll aside. Repeat, creating six tempura rolls. , Cut each into 1-1/2 in. slices. Serve with reserved sauce.

DUCK L'ORANGE TEMPURA SUSHI ROLL

Steps:

• Season duck with salt, garlic, and chili powder.
• Toast sesame seeds and set aside.
• Puree garlic, sage, and olive oil in food processor using just enough oil to create a paste. This will act as your 'wasabi' when you plate.
• Cut shallow parallel slits on the skin side of the duck being careful not to cut into the breast itself. This helps render the fat in the cooking process. (A possible refinement is to pound the breasts flat here. This may make the end product easier to roll and cut as a sushi roll although I have yet to try this).
• Heat a dry pan over high heat. Place breasts skin side down and sear until crispy. Don't move the breasts once placed on a side to sear, to ensure a proper, quality sear.
• Flip and sear duck on the other side being careful not to cook past rare to med-rare. The duck will be cooked further when tempura battered.
• Pat dry and let duck rest 10 min on paper towels before slicing as thin as possible (you may not regret having pounded the duck previously!).
• Break egg into a bowl containing the iced water and whisk until frothy.
• Add baking soda and flour.
• Beat until the flour is just mixed together. Do not over beat!
• Batter should be so thin that the merest wisp clings to the duck when dipped in it--you don't want a lot of batter to stick.
• If it seems too thick, add a little more iced water, and keep the batter cold.
• Cook jasmine rice so its nice and sticky.
• Dip duck in batter and fry in deep fryer at 400 degrees F until golden brown--this should only take a min or 2. Use a slotted spoon to transfer duck onto paper towels. Always fry in small batches.
• Put ingredients for the L'Orange sauce in pan and heat until alcohol simmers off and sauce thickens, about 6 minutes.
• To plate spread a thin layer of cooked rice onto sushi mat. Place a layer of duck and apple on the edge of the rice and roll tightly. Sprinkle roll with toasted sesame seeds and cut into sushi pieces. Drizzle kecap decoratively over the roll and on the plate. Serve with L'Orange sauce and mound of sage/garlic 'washabi' for dipping.
• An easier alternate plating is to serve it as sashimi. This solves the difficulty of both rolling sushi, and getting clean cuts through the roll as the duck can be difficult to slice through without breaking the roll apart. To plate as sashimi mold the rice into thin half inch by one inch rectangles. Cut apple sticks to this size and place on top of the rice followed by a piece of duck which should be just smaller than this.