Step 1

In a small bowl, squeeze 2 tablespoons lemon juice into the bowl.If you like it very lemony, you can also zest 1/4 teaspoon of zest of the skin into the sauce as well. Make sure not to grate any of the white part of the skin (the pith) it's bitter.

Step 2

Mix in 1½ tablespoons soy sauce and 2½ tablespoons mirin into the bowl. (If you don't have mirin, mix 1 teaspoon of sugar with 2 tablespoons of water to substitute it.)

Step 3

Add in 1/4 cup bonito flakes and let it soak for at least 5 minutes. You can prepare the shishito peppers while the bonito flakes are soaking

Step 4

After the bonito flakes had time to soak in the sauce, you can remove it and discard it.

Step 5

Wash the shishito peppers, and dry them very well with a tea towel or paper towel.

Step 6

(Optional, but Highly Recommended) Puncture each shishito pepper with a toothpick or a fork at the tip. This will help the steam release during the blistering stage and not build up and burst, which can spray hot liquids on you.

Step 7

Put the peppers in a bowl, and add 1 teaspoon oil. Use your hand and mix the peppers in the oil to coat them all very well.

Step 8

On a cast iron pan, set the stove medium heat and let the pan get really hot. Make sure the pan is really hot before you put the peppers in, that is how you will get the blistering.If you are using a regular frying pan, set it to medium-high heat.Alternatively, you can also use a grill for this as well on medium heat.

Step 9

Since you already oiled the peppers, you don't need to oil the pan.Add the shishito peppers into the pan, and spread them out so they are on a single layer.

Step 10

Cook the peppers for about 5-6 minutes, flipping every 30 seconds to a 1 minute.If you are using a frying pan, you don't need to flip them as often and you may need to add 1-2 minutes more to the cooking time since it doesn't get as hot as a cast iron pan.

Step 11

(Optional) Once the peppers are done cooking, toss them in ¼ teaspoon sesame oil and place them on a serving plate.

Step 12

If you are not tossing them into sesame oil, remove them from the pan and plate it. Serve it with a side of dipping sauce, and enjoy!