Dashi Tomato with Garlic & Black Sesame
Greg Dunmore
Tomatoes gently poached in dashi are a classic Japanese preparation that highlights their natural sweetness and umami. For private dinners and restaurant menus, I sometimes playfully call this dish "Oden" because the tomatoes are allowed to slowly steep in the seasoned dashi. My version finishes them with toasted garlic, butter, and rich black sesame, creating a dish that feels both decadent and remarkably light.
Ingredients
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1 quart Dashi
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1 tablespoon Hanamaruki Liquid Shio Koji
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2 tablespoons Nitto Jozo White Tamari
- 2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon mirin
- 4 large Early Girl tomatoes, core removed
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic, finely chopped
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¼ cup Wadaman Organic Black Sesame Paste
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Wadaman Salty Black Sesame Seeds, for garnish
Directions
- Heat the dashi in a medium saucepan until just below a simmer. Add the liquid shio koji, white tamari, sea salt, and mirin. Bring to a gentle simmer, then remove from the heat.
- Prepare a large bowl of ice water. Bring a separate saucepan of water to a boil. Add the tomatoes and blanch for 10 seconds, then transfer immediately to the ice water for 30 seconds.
- Remove the tomatoes from the ice water, peel off the skins, and slice off the tops. Using the handle of a teaspoon, gently remove the seeds from the center of each tomato and discard.
- Add the peeled tomatoes to the warm dashi and let them rest for 10 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, carefully remove the tomatoes, allowing any excess dashi to drain back into the pot. Arrange the tomatoes on serving plates, cut side down.
- Just before serving, melt the butter in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until lightly golden. Immediately add ¼ cup of the tomato dashi, then whisk in the black sesame paste. Add any juices that have collected around the tomatoes and gradually add more dashi until the sauce reaches a smooth, velvety consistency that coats the back of a spoon.
- Spoon the black sesame sauce over the tomatoes, garnish with Wadaman Salty Black Sesame Seeds, and serve immediately.