
Tetsuya’s Oysters with Japanese Dressing Recipe
In case you’ve ever been lucky sufficient to dine at Tetsuya’s, a chic fashionable Japanese restaurant in Sydney, you’ll have loved his oysters with a Japanese French dressing topped with glowing pearls of salmon roe. A phenomenal, elegant option to serve oysters that’s lifeless straightforward to make at house!

Tetsuya’s is a positive eating institution right here in Sydney that’s set amongst stunning Japanese gardens but is situated proper in the course of the bustling metropolis. It presents a contemporary Japanese degustation menu and is, as you most likely guessed, a restaurant reserved for very particular events!
Credited with bringing new-style fusion eating to the Sydney restaurant scene again within the 90’s, it was most likely the primary time I loved a very oyster served with Japanese flavours. Whereas Asian fashion oysters are “all over the place” today, the Tetsuya one stays as a stand-out.
Fortunately for me, the recipe is included in his cookbook and it’s very easy to make at house.


Right here’s what it is advisable to make the dressing.

Tetsuya might need a meltdown with among the substitution choices I’ve suggesting! 😂
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Japanese soy sauce – Japanese soy sauce is most popular (I take advantage of Kikkoman). However don’t go purchase one particularly should you’ve already bought gentle soy or one other all-purpose soy sauce. Simply don’t use darkish soy sauce, too intense, it would destroy the sauce.
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Rice vinegar – An Asian vinegar produced from rice. Substitute with apple cider or white wine vinegar (however you’ll lose a little bit of the Asian flavour, nonetheless tasty although!
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Mirin – Japanese candy cooking wine that’s form of syrupy, you will get it within the Asian part of standard grocery shops. It actually provides complexity into this sauce so extremely really useful.
Substitute with cooking sake, dry sherry or Chinese language cooking wine additional sugar. For non alcoholic, substitute with sugar, additional oil and soy (portions in recipe notes).
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Sesame oil – For a touch of pretty sesame flavour.
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Ginger – Contemporary is the one manner right here!
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Oil – Use a impartial flavoured oil like grapeseed or vegetable oil. Don’t use olive oil or coconut oil, it would add an excessive amount of flavour!
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Sugar – To steadiness out the flavour.
Elective salmon roe topping


Then there’s additionally the choice to dial up the flowery issue by serving them with salmon roe on high! These orange pearls are like giant balls of caviar with a fragile shell that nearly dissolves while you eat it, flooding your mouth with a wealthy savoury seafood “sauce”. Cooks find it irresistible as a result of it seems nice and tastes nice.
It’s not the most affordable ingredient on the planet ($25 for a small 50g jar) nevertheless it’s meant for use sparingly. You’ll solely want about 20g (1 heaped tablespoon) for 12 oysters. Discover it at fish mongers, some delis and recent produce shops. For a less expensive different, use orange lumpfish caviar which you’ll be able to typically even discover at common grocery shops (~$5 for a tin, fridge part).
Regretfully, it’s uncommon to seek out fine-dining restaurant recipes with so few steps as this:
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Combine dressing elements collectively.
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Spoon onto oysters, high with salmon roe and chives, if utilizing. Serve!

For the opposite 2 oyster recipes I shared at the moment, head right here.
Like to know what you assume should you do this recipe!
Salmon roe is pricey!! You’ll be able to have ONE.


Ingredients
- 1 tsp white sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp Japanese soy sauce (substitute light soy, Note 1)
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar (Note 2)
- 2 tsp mirin (Note 3)
- 3 tbsp grapeseed or vegetable oil (or other neutral oil)
- 2 tsp sesame oil , toasted (Note 4)
- 1 1/2 tsp grated ginger
- 12 oysters (Sydney Rock or Pacific, Note 5)
- 20 g / 2/3 oz (1 heaped tbsp) salmon roe , for topping (optional, makes it extra special, Note 6)
- 2 tsp chives , finely sliced
- Rock salt , crushed ice or leafy greens – for serving bed (Note 7)
Instructions
- Combine sugar, soy, rice vinegar and mirin in a jug or bowl. Whisk well until sugar is dissolved. Add oils and ginger. Whisk again and use immediately.
- Place oysters on a serving platter on ice or rock salt (Note 7).
- Spoon dressing in each – I use 3/4 teaspoon on small oysters and 1 1/4 teaspoon for large. Or more!
- Top with a small pile of salmon roe, sprinkle with chives. Serve!
Notes
1. Soy sauce – A Japanese soy sauce is best but don’t go buy one especially if you’ve already got light soy or another all-purpose soy sauce. Just don’t use dark soy sauce, too intense, it will ruin the sauce.
2. Rice vinegar – Substitute 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider or white wine vinegar (but you’ll lose a bit of the Asian flavour, still tasty though!)
3. Mirin – Japanese sweet cooking wine that is kind of syrupy, you can get it in the Asian section of regular grocery stores. It really adds complexity into this sauce so highly recommended. Substitute with 1 tsp cooking sake, dry sherry or Chinese cooking wine PLUS 1/2 tsp white sugar. For non alcoholic, substitute with 1/2 tsp white sugar + 1 tsp extra oil + 1/2 tsp extra soy.
4. Use toasted sesame oil (brown) not untested (yellow, harder to find in Australia).
5. Oysters – Both Sydney Rock (smaller, stronger flavour) and Pacific (fleshier, cleaner flavour) oysters are great. These are the two main varieties here in Australia. Flavour and quality comes down to where they are grown. I love: Tasmanian, Merimbula, Port Stephens, Batemans Bay, Boomer Bay. But there are many more from around Australia that are great I haven’t tried or I don’t see them here in Sydney!
6. Salmon roe – gourmet ingredient! Think of it like giant caviar pearls that pop and flood your mouth with a sweet, savoury “sauce”. Chefs love using it. 🙂 Optional – oysters are really tasty even without. Find it at seafood shops, delis and some fresh produce stores (like Harris Farms). 50g is $25 (yes, it’s gourmet!). Lumpfish caviar is a cheaper alternative with the same orange colour (~$5) though as its so much smaller, flavour and mouthfeel not the same.
7. Serving oysters typically served on bed of ice at restaurants to keep them cold and provide a stable base. Rock salt is an alternative (though have to discard), otherwise, a bed of leafy greens (whatever’s cheap at the time eg watercress, kale)
Make ahead – Dressing can be made the day before. Once assembled, serve immediately.