We’re looking for fresh talent!

Got fresh ideas? Got a fresh perspective on marinades and topping sauces? We’d love to hear your ideas. And we’re prepared to make it interesting…

We get emails from customers every day, telling us our Original and Spicy Ginger Miso Dressings are delicious as salad dressings and dips, and that really makes us happy! But, now we also want people to know that these flavorful dressings can also be great as marinades, cooking sauces, and toppings for lots of other items, from steak to fish to poultry and beyond!

Have you created a delicious, original recipe using either of our dressing varieties as a marinade or topping? If you have, or if you’d like to, we invite you to enter the “Dress It Up” contest for a chance to win a First Place prize Whole Foods Market Gift Card of $300! The Second and Third Place prizes are also Whole Foods Market Gift Cards of $200 and $100, respectively.

We’re looking for all sorts of fresh ideas! Yours can be fancy and sophisticated or simply sublime.

The basics of the contest:

Contest Dates: 8/31/09 – 11/30/09 (All entries must be submitted by 11:59:59 P.M. ET on November 30, 2009)

First Prize: $300 Whole Foods Market gift card
Second Prize: $200 Whole Foods Market gift card
Third Prize: $100 Whole Foods Market gift card

Enter as many original recipes as you’d like. Entries consist of a list of ingredients, recipe instructions, and uploading a photo of your item, and will be judged by Genji on the basis of creativity/originality and practicality of preparation. No purchase necessary to enter or claim a prize. The contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia, 18 years of age or age of majority in state of residence, whichever is older, at time of entry. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law.

Try one of our fresh ideas:
Spicy Ginger Miso Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:
6-8 Butter Head or Bib lettuce leaves
3 red cabbage leaves for garnish (optional)
½ cup shredded carrots
½ cup bean sprouts
¼ cup roasted chopped peanuts
1 cup cooked Japanese sushi rice (prepare as directed on rice package or pre-order from Genji)
Pickled Japanese cucumbers [kyori] (see recipe below)
(seedless cucumber can be substituted)

For Chicken:
1lb boneless skinless chicken breast
1 tbs minced garlic
1 tbs minced ginger
3 tbs sake (dry white wine can be substituted)
½ cup Genji’s Spicy Ginger Miso Dressing
(Extra sauce reserved for dipping)

Preparation:
Lightly pound chicken breast to tenderize meat for marinade. Combine minced ginger, garlic, and sake together in a small bowl. Rub mixture over chicken breast and place in a plastic or glass container. Pour Spicy Ginger Miso Dressing over chicken and toss lightly. Cover and refrigerate from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Grill chicken for 8-10 minutes on grill until chicken is no longer pink. Using the remaining marinade, brush chicken periodically while grilling.

Pickled Japanese Cucumbers:
1 cucumber (thinly sliced)
¹⁄3 cup rice vinegar
1 tbs mirin (sweet Japanese cooking wine) (a sweet cooking wine can be substituted)
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

Combine all ingredients and toss lightly. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Table Presentation:
Wash and dry lettuce leaves. Arrange a bed of lettuce on a large serving plate. Take three red cabbage leaves and trim them so that they create a “boat” formation. Fill each cabbage “boat” with one topping: bean sprouts, carrots, and pickled cucumbers. Place on top of the lettuce. Place chicken on serving plate and sprinkle chopped roasted peanuts on top. Keep sushi rice in a bowl and extra Ginger Miso Dressing on the side for drizzling or dipping.

Assembly:
Assemble lettuce wraps by spooning rice, chicken and toppings into a single lettuce leaf. Drizzle Ginger Miso Dressing on top. Fold as you would a taco, and enjoy.