Toriwasa (Chicken & Parsely with Horesradish Sauce)
Submitted by nancymariec
Toriwasa is a Japanese izakaya classic: sake-poached chicken shredded thin and tossed with blanched parsley in a sharp wasabi-soy dressing, finished with shredded nori. Light, clean, and full of bite.
YIELD
6 servingsPREP
20 minCOOK
20 minREADY
40 minWalk into any good izakaya in Tokyo and you’ll likely find toriwasa on the menu.
It’s deceptively simple: chicken breast poached gently in sake, shredded paper-thin, then dressed in a punchy sauce of wasabi and soy.
Blanched parsley adds a bright, green freshness that balances the heat, and shredded nori on top brings that unmistakable ocean-scented crunch.
Served cool in small bowls, this is the kind of appetizer that wakes up every part of your palate before the main event.
Chef Tips
- Slice the chicken while it’s still slightly firm. Paper-thin shreds are the goal. Partially freezing the breast for 20 minutes makes this much easier.
- Don’t boil the chicken. Bring it to a boil, then immediately pull it off the heat and let it cool in the liquid. This keeps the meat silky, not tough.
- Mix the wasabi paste fresh. Wasabi powder mixed with a few drops of water right before assembling gives you the sharpest, most sinus-clearing heat.
- Serve immediately after assembling. The wasabi loses its punch quickly once it hits the soy sauce. This dish is best eaten within minutes of being dressed.
Ingredients
Directions
Skin and bone chicken breasts.
Cut chicken breasts horizontally into paper thin slices, then into shreds ¼ inch wide.
Put chicken, sake, ⅛ teaspoon salt, and a sprinkling of MSG into a small saucepan.
Bring to a boil.
Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
Put 5/8 pints water, ½ teaspoon salt, into as small pan.
Bring to a boil.
Cook parsely for 1 minute.
Drain and rinse under cold water.
TO ASSEMEBLE: Put the Wasabi paste with 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and MSG into a mixing bowl.
Stir in chicken, liquid and parsely; mix thoroughly.
Divide into 6 small bowls, and cover with shredded nori.
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