Yuzu is a citrus fruit, grown in China. It’s a commonly used ingredient in Japanese cuisine – the juice, due to its tartness (sourness), smack-in-the-mouth twang is used as flavouring agent while it’s aromatic zest for garnish. It’s somewhat close to what a lemon does. While the fruit is not sold in Melbourne, I found the next best thing – yuzu juice from selected Japanese specialist stores and paid about $8 for a 100ml bottle, but the flavour profile is priceless.
I love the flavour of this dish – absolutely perfect for a party. It has a good balance between the sourness of the yuzu juice and the sweetness crunch of fresh prawns. The sesame seeds add wonderful texture and fragrance. So, if you need a quick pick-me-up for your guests, this is just perfect. 
This recipe is adapted from Good Food.
Simple Grilled Prawns with Yuzu Dressing
- Yield: 2 1x
Description
Grilled to perfection and dressed with tangy yuzu dressing. This crowd-pleaser dish is a perfect dish to start your party. So, be prepared to wow your guests.
Ingredients
- 6 large prawns, de-shell and de-vein
- 1 tsp sesame seeds, toasted
- store-bought Shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven-flavour chilli pepper)
Dressing
- 1 tbsp yuzu juice
- 1 tbsp mirin
- 4 tbsp grape seed oil
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp garlic, finely grated
- 1 tbsp japanese mayonnaise
Instructions
- Heat up a pan. Mix all the ingredients of the dressing in a bowl.
- Brush the prawns with the dressing and place them on the pan or grill for 2-3 mins each side until cooked through.
- Once it’s cooked, arrange them on a plate and spoon over the remaining dressing. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and if you like a little spiciness, sprinkle with some Shichimi togarashi.
- Category: Appetiser
- Cuisine: Japanese
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find yuzu juice for this recipe?
Yuzu juice can be found at selected Japanese specialist stores; I purchased a 100ml bottle for about $8.
How do I prepare the prawns for grilling?
Make sure to clean and devein the prawns, then marinate them briefly in the yuzu dressing before grilling.
What can I use if I can’t find yuzu juice?
If yuzu juice is unavailable, you can substitute with a mix of lemon and lime juice to mimic the tartness and aroma.
