The dish should look like a vibrant scattering of colorful elements. Four golden, crispy tempura cod chunks placed off-center on a pale plate, accentuated by the fresh hues of spring from the cherry blossom salsa. The mirin-ginger glaze glistening on the tempura casts a subtle sheen, making the dish glisten subtly under light.

Cod Tempura with Blossom Salsa and Mirin-Ginger Glaze

Name: Cod Tempura with Blossom Salsa and Mirin-Ginger Glaze
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: cod fillets, 2 cut into chunks; soda water, 1 cup chilled; all-purpose flour, 1 cup for batter; cornstarch, 1 cup for coating; cherry blossoms, 1 cup lightly brined and chopped; spring onion, 2 stalks finely chopped; cucumber, 1/2 deseeded and diced; mirin, 1/4 cup unused; ginger, 1 small knob peeled and finely grated; soy sauce, 2 tablespoons unused; vegetable oil, unused for frying; salt, to taste unused

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 20 minutes

Style Japanese

Technique Frying

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily Recipe: March 31, 2025

This appealing Japanese-inspired seafood dish uniquely combines winter and spring features. The star of the dish is Cod - a cold-water fish lauded for its mild, slightly sweet flavor and flaky white flesh. We're pairing it with lightly brined cherry blossoms and a mirin-ginger glaze to create a balanced flavor experience that's refreshingly innovative.

Ingredients (for 2)

Cod fillets - 2 - cut into chunks
Soda water - 1 cup - chilled
All-purpose flour - 1 cup - for batter
Cornstarch - 1 cup - for coating
Cherry blossoms - 1 cup - lightly brined and chopped
Spring onion - 2 stalks - finely chopped
Cucumber - 1/2 - deseeded and diced
Mirin - 1/4 cup - unused
Ginger - 1 small knob - peeled and finely grated
Soy sauce - 2 tablespoons - unused
Vegetable oil - unused - for frying
Salt - to taste - unused

Preparation

Step 1 - 🌸🥒🥣

Combine brined cherry blossoms, diced cucumber, and chopped spring onions in a bowl. Set aside for flavors to meld.
Step 2 - 🥤🥣🍚

Mix chilled soda water with flour in a bowl until it forms a light batter.
Step 3 - 🍳🐟🔥

Heat the vegetable oil in a deep frying pan. Coat the cod pieces first in cornstarch, then in the batter, and fry till they're golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper.
Step 4 - 🥢🍶🔥

Mix mirin, freshly grated ginger, and soy sauce in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and reduce until it thickens slightly into a glaze.
Step 5 - 🍽️🌸🍶

Arrange the cod tempura on plates, top with the blossom salsa, and drizzle the mirin-ginger glaze over. Season with a pinch of salt if needed.

Additional

Brining cherry blossoms may be an unusual step for some, the process significantly enhances the flavor and texture. While brining, be sure to rinse the blossoms in cold water first to get rid of any dust or bugs. You can hand-involve kids in battering and coating processes.