So there I was, cooking Cuban food and minding my own business, when I received an email from the lovely folks at Kikkoman. Yes, you know them best as the Japanese soy sauce people.
They were inviting me to try some of their products. Really? You know I'm a Cuban cook, right? (I was intrigued, but not convinced.)
Ponzu, which they explained was a classic Japanese condiment with a zesty lime flavor, could be used beautifully in some Latin dishes. Very interesting, I said, but I still wasn't sure it was going to be a good fit.
In fact, they offered to send me some of this magical Latin-tasting-but-still-Japanese Ponzu for me to try for myself. I considered it, but with some reservations. Japanese sauce? Me?
Finally they said...
If you're interested, we can provide everything you need to stage your very own ¡Kikko de Mayo Fiesta! including:
- $25 AMEX for all of your ingredients!
- Kikkoman Lime Ponzu - the star of the celebration
- Assortment of Kikkoman's special sauces and product
Me: Did you just say, "Kikko de Mayo?" I. LOVE. THAT. Count me in!
So they sent me a giant box full of Kikkoman goodies and I proceeded to make some fabulous carne asada marinaded in lime, garlic and my new best friend, Ponzu. =D
Lime and Ponzu Carne Asada
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Kikkoman Lime Ponzu
1/4 cup lime juice (I squeezed 2 fresh limes)
4 garlic cloves, crushed
2 lbs. flank or skirt steak
1) In medium bowl, whisk ponzu, lime juice and garlic.
2) Pour over steak and marinate overnight.
3) Remove steak from marinade; pat dry.
4) Grill or broil to desired temperature.
I added sauteed onions & peppers.
And some flour tortillas that I heated straight over the burner on the stove. (The trick is to gingerly hold by the edges and keep flipping until the tortilla just barely starts to get toasty.)
And I served the whole amazing thing with some sliced avocado and Spanish rice.
It was amazingly easy and delicious. You may now refer to me as the Queen of Ponzu (I think it has a nice ring to it) Thanks, Kikkoman!
I am sooo excited to be celebrating "Kikko de Mayo" now. (I still think that's Genius.)
The Kikkoman people (sensing my enthusiasm) have generously offered to send out, not one, but two (!) "Kikko de Mayo Fiesta" (do you not just LOVE saying that?) gift packs which include all the same cool products they sent me, along with a $25 AMEX gift card.
How cool is this?? The cookbook on the left has some inspired recipes that I'm already anxious to try.
If you'd like to be entered in the drawing for this very awesome Box O' Kikkoman Fun Stuff, please just leave a comment on this post. I'll pick a winner on Wednesday, May 5th. (Duh! Cinco de Mayo!)
Not only am I going to use this Magical Lime Ponzu on pretty much everything I cook now (because I can tend to get a little obsessive, and plus they sent me a boatload of it), I am sooo going to try making croquetas with those beautiful Japanese breadcrumbs. ;-)
"I'm turning Japanese... I think I'm turning Japanese... I really think so..." -The Vapors
(cross-posted over at the Tiki Tiki)
