Description
Ina Garten’s elegant tuna tartare recipe blends fresh sushi-grade tuna with zesty Asian-inspired seasonings. Home chefs can craft this luxurious appetizer with simple ingredients and minimal preparation, delivering restaurant-quality results that will impress guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 0.75 lb (340 g) very fresh tuna steak, cut into ¼-inch dice
- 1 ripe Hass avocado, cut into ¼-inch dice
- 0.25 cup (60 ml) olive oil
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
- 5 limes, zest grated
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp hot red pepper sauce
- 1 tsp wasabi powder
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 0.25 cup (40 g) minced scallions, white and green parts (about 2–3 scallions)
- 1 tbsp minced fresh jalapeño pepper, seeds removed
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds, optional
Instructions
- Marination: Blend diced tuna with olive oil, lime zest, lime juice, wasabi powder, soy sauce, hot red pepper sauce, kosher salt, and black pepper in a spacious mixing bowl, ensuring uniform coating of the fish.
- Herb and Spice Integration: Gently fold chopped scallions and minced jalapeno into the marinated tuna, maintaining the delicate fish structure while evenly distributing bold flavors.
- Avocado Incorporation: Carefully dice avocado into uniform cubes and tenderly fold into the tuna mixture, preserving the soft fruit’s integrity and adding creamy texture to the tartare.
- Textural Enhancement: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds throughout the mixture, gently integrating for subtle crunch and nutty undertones.
- Flavor Development and Serving: Refrigerate tartare for one hour to allow flavors to harmonize, then serve chilled on crisp crackers or toast points. Garnish with additional scallions or sesame seeds, presenting an elegant and vibrant appetizer that showcases fresh, zesty marine flavors.
Notes
- Chill for Flavor Fusion: Refrigerate the tartare for at least 1 hour to allow ingredients to blend and intensify taste, creating a more complex and harmonious flavor profile.
- Handle Tuna Gently: Mix ingredients carefully to preserve the delicate fish texture, avoiding aggressive stirring that could break down the tuna’s tender consistency.
- Prep Avocado with Precision: Dice avocado into uniform cubes and fold softly into the mixture to prevent bruising, maintaining its creamy texture and clean appearance.
- Serve Immediately Fresh: Enjoy the tartare right after chilling for maximum flavor impact, using crisp crackers or toast points to complement the rich, zesty tuna mixture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg