(Top: Spicy Mayo/Bottom: Shrimp Sauce)
You will be hard-pressed to find a Japanese restaurant in America that doesn’t serve shrimp sauce or spicy mayo. You will have an even harder time finding a restaurant in Japan that knows what shrimp sauce is. That’s right! Shrimp sauce is not Japanese in origin. This sauce doesn’t even have shrimp in it. Does that matter? Nope, this sauce is just as delicious as before I found out.
Sushi is traditionally eaten with soy sauce, wasabi and, as a palate cleanser, gari (pickled ginger). Here is a guide from Sushi-Ya on Sushi Etiquette.
Now that I have paid my respects to the traditional Japanese way of sushi consumption. Let me tell you how I see people eat sushi in the States, or at least in mine (Florida). I have spent some time working at a sushi bar and have yet to see these rules followed. What I have seen are individuals spearing pieces of sushi with a single chopstick. The movie 300, will give you an accurate depiction of what I mean. I have seen two men eat sushi off a woman’s cleavage on two separate occasions. Perhaps the most disgusting but amusing thing that I have been blessed, or cursed, to view was the glorious day two college kids simultaneously downed bottles of shrimp sauce to avoid the bill. Good times.
I am no better. I drown my sushi everything in shrimp sauce. In my world, shrimp sauce would be served at diners, sitting next to the ketchup. At Chinese restaurants, next to the chili oil and soy sauce. At Mexican restaurants, next to the Cholula. At Starbucks, next to the creamers. You get the idea.
- 1 Cup Hellmann's Mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp Butter Unsalted, melted
- 1 tbsp Rice Vinegar
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Tomato Paste Substitute with ketchup
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Shichimi Togarashi (optional)
- 1/2 Cup Kewpie Mayo
- 2 tbsp Sriracha Add more if you like it spicier
- 1/2 tsp Sesame Oil
- 1/2 tsp Rice Vinegar
- Melt butter in the microwave (10 second intervals). Allow this to come to room temp.
- Mix all of the ingredients together.
- Place in the fridge for at least 2 hours before use.
- Mix the mayo and sriracha. Done.
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