Does yuzu confuse you?
Professional chefs clarify, plus ways to bring this bright Asian citrus fruit into your life.
If you’re wondering, “What is yuzu?”
Greg DuPree
you’re not alone.
Read on for recipes and more about this exotic citrus fruit that’s surging in the culinary world.
Inside, yuzu flesh is similar to a lemon’s and is very aromatic.
Emily Kinni
Rarely eaten as a whole fruit, yuzu is mostly used for its zest and juice.
“In Japan, yuzu is used for so much more than just cooking.”
“It is very complex, distinctive, and highly aromatic.”
Danny Kim
Shige Kabashima, owner and bar director ofNR, a New York City bar, agrees.
“Yuzu tastes like lemon, grapefruit, and mandarin orange and is very aromatic,” he says.
“I think that it does a great job of adding a tart, sour flavor.”
Victor Protasio
Nutritional Benefits of Yuzu
Yuzu has nutritional perks worth noting.
For starters, it’s packed with sodium, magnesium, and manganese.
This key nutrient may alsoimprove eye health, and may even slow the progress of age-related macular degeneration.
Gentl & Hyers
Nevertheless, always check the sell-by date and give it a sniff to be safe.
Cooking With Yuzu
Despite yuzu’s distinct flavor, it’s actually quite versatile in the kitchen.
“A friend had just returned from Japan with it.
José Picayo
The smell alone was so different from what I knew before.
It was a true discovery, an inspiration.”
Here are just a few ways to introduce yuzu into your cooking.
zoff-photo
“The elegance of it is really cool, and the length on your palate is surprising.
Use it on vegetables directly or in a vinaigrette or marinade.
That’s because its import to the U.S. is banned to prevent the spread of citrus disease.
Fortunately, bottled yuzu juice is more widely available online as well as in Asian markets.
In cocktails, it goes especially well with gin, honey, and shiso leaf.”
Try adding yuzu juice to one of our sparkling lemonade mixed drink recipes.
“It takes even a store-bought version to new heights!”
Try adding yuzu next time you pull out our matzo ball soup recipe.
Crispy Roasted Mushrooms
Chef Patel likes to pair yuzu with vegetables.
Add some yuzu to our crispy roasted mushrooms for a flavor boost.
Throw in some truffle butter if you’re feelingparticularlyfancy.
“Yuzu can be worked into creme brulee, cheesecakes, pie, and so much more.”
Upgrade our classic cheesecake recipe by adding a dash of yuzu juice to the batter.
“It brightens the flavors of sweet dishes like cookies, cupcakes, and cheesecakes!”
