Quantities are for 12 fresh oysters.

INGREDIENTS

12 shucked oysters on the half shell, drained

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

2 tablespoons mirin (sweet rice wine)

12 small cilantro sprigs

2 tablespoons thinly sliced peeled fresh ginger

1 small fresh red chile, halved lengthwise, seeded, and cut into 12 thin strips

1/4 teaspoon Szechuan peppercorns, crushed

DIRECTIONS

1) Arrange 6 oysters on the half shell in a vegetable steamer.

2) Combine vinegar and mirin in a small bowl, and stir well. Drizzle 1 teaspoon vinegar mixture over each oyster; top each with 1 cilantro sprig, 1 slice of ginger, and 1 strip of chile. Sprinkle half of crushed peppercorns over oysters.

3) Steam, covered, 2 minutes or until edges of oysters curl. Repeat procedure with remaining oysters, vinegar mixture, cilantro, ginger, chile, and peppercorns. Serve warm.