Shishito Pepper Dip

• portions: 4 servings

Ingrédients

⅔ cup raw pistachios

6 scallions, chopped

12 oz. shishito peppers (about 5 cups), seeds removed, coarsely chopped

4 cups carrot tops or parsley leaves with tender stems

1 toasted nori sheet, coarsely torn

2 Tbsp. unseasoned rice vinegar

2 Tbsp. white soy sauce

½ cup soft tofu (preferably Meiji Supreme)

¼ cup vegetable oil

Crunchy vegetables (such as carrots, radishes, celery, and/or cucumbers; for serving)

White soy sauce, also known as white shoyu, is lighter in color and flavor than standard soy sauce. It can be found at Japanese markets, in the Asian foods section of some supermarkets, and online.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Toast pistachios on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing halfway through, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Let cool; set aside.

Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Boil scallions, peppers, and carrot tops until peppers are tender, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a bowl of ice water and let cool. Drain and squeeze out as much excess water with your hands as possible. Transfer to a plate and chill in freezer 5 minutes (this will keep the dip bright green).

Finely grind nori in a blender; transfer to a small bowl. Wipe out blender, then blend vinegar, soy sauce, and reserved nuts in blender until nuts are coarsely chopped. Add chilled vegetable mixture along with tofu and blend, streaming in oil, until very smooth (this may take up to 4 minutes, depending on your blender). If mixture seems thick, add 1 Tbsp. water to loosen.

Transfer dip to a bowl and sprinkle with nori powder. Serve with vegetables alongside for dipping.