Tuna Tartare

Similar to my love for HGTV, I also love The Food Network, especially Barefoot Contessa.  While her show is great (I SO want to visit Martha's Vineyard!)...I especially love her recipes and have several of her cookbooks.  My husband and I have tried dozens of her recipes and are rarely disappointed.  She believes in simple directions and high quality ingredients, which makes it fun and easy to replicate her recipes.  

So last night, we decided to try her tuna tartare.  I've recently started to really enjoy tuna and we have a great specialty market in town, Overland Meat, that flies in fresh tuna every Friday!  We were really impressed with the quality and I think that makes a huge difference in the end result.

Recipe from Barefoot Contessa Family Style:

• 3/4 pound very fresh tuna steak
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• Grated zest of 1 lime
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon wasabi powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 6 dashes Tabasco sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup minced scallions, white and green parts (2 scallions)
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh jalapeño peppers, seeds removed
• 1 ripe Hass avocado (we only used half)
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

Cut the tuna into 1/4-inch dice and place it in a medium bowl.  In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lime zest, lime juice, wasabi, soy sauce, Tabasco, salt, and pepper.  Pour over the tuna, add the scallions and jalapeño, and mix well.  (Note: we actually made the sauce first and then cut the tuna in order to prevent oxidation).  Cut the avocado in half, remove the seed, and peel.  Cut the avocado into 1/4-inch dice.  Carefully mix the avocado into the tuna mixture.  Add the toasted sesame seeds and season to taste (Note: we put these on top only).  Allow the mixture to sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour for the flavors to blend.  Serve on crackers (we used Carr's brand, with sesame seed flavor).


We love the flavor of the sauce and will definitely make these as an appetizer for company.

Hope you enjoy!  Bon Appetit!

xo natasha

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