Ahi Tuna Tartare w/ Avocado, Crispy Shallots & Soy-Sesame Dressing
Hmm… Sorry!
That’s what happens when you’re not allowed to take your Legos to work. My goal was to make an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower using only tuna tartare, avocados and fried shallots but after a few miserable attempts i had to give-up. I made a pitiful two-story building instead. Pffeww, shameful i know… but quite tasty though! It was inspired by the Tuna tartare served at BLT steak in NYC.
No time to play with my Legos these days. A few dinner parties already planned for this week (and it was supposed to be a quiet one!) and i’m leaving for the Hamptons next Monday where i’ll be working until Labor day – starting with a mucho-glamour dinner party for 50 on Tuesday. I’ll try to snap a few pictures of the food – if i don’t get arrested first that is. (There’s some foreign dignitary coming, which means we’ll have monkeys secret services hanging from the trees. Note to self: bring extra peanuts).
Anyway, if i’m not posting too much these days it’s because i’m busy figuring-out the logistic of it all but i have to make sure you don’t starve when visiting my blog. So come to the table and let’s have this light classic appetizers together. The freshest Ahi tuna, a ripe avocado, some crispy shallots and a great dressing made with soy sauce, mirin, hot sesame oil and honey. Simple and good… just like me! Kiddiiing!
For the tartare:
- 20 ounces fresh Ahi Tuna, cut into small dice
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 ripe Hass avocados, peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt & freshly ground pepper
For the crispy shallots:
- canola oil for frying
- 4 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
- 2 tablespoons flour
- sea salt
For the dressing:
- 3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons mirin
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon hot sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Make the tartare: Toss the tuna with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss the avocado with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
- Make the crispy shallots: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan. Toss the shallots in the flour and fry for 45 seconds, or until golden brown. Remove the shallots with a fine mesh strainer and drain on paper towels. Season with salt.
- Make the dressing: Whisk together all the ingredients.
- To assemble: Mold the avocado using a 3-inch tartlet ring. Mold the tuna tartare on top of the avocado and finish with the crispy shallots. Lift off the ring and drizzle the dressing around. Serve with potato chips or thin slices of toasted bread. Enjoy!
August 12th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Not just any 3-inch tartelette ring, it appears! A freaking cubic one! That is just fantastic, Zen-man. It looks like a million bucks!
August 12th, 2008 at 1:53 am
It’s so pretty! What a nice fancy appetizer. Enjoy the Hamptons and good luck with your newest project. We’ll look forward to the pics!
This really is picture perfect!
August 12th, 2008 at 3:24 am
Forget appetizer, can I have a dinner-sized one of those? 5″x8″ should do nicely.
August 12th, 2008 at 4:47 am
nice presentation mr fancy pants, this is much more zen than the eiffel tower
and having seen countless dragon and phoenix statues carved out of TOFU, i can confidently say i love ur cube more
August 12th, 2008 at 4:58 am
Wow, this looks fantastic. Love, love, love everything about this dish, including the gorgeous presentation. Looking forward to the day when we can send food from one place to another in an instant — I would be all over this one!
August 12th, 2008 at 6:08 am
You poor little (yeah right…) french working boy (cof cof)! I’m glad you finally came to fed us, I was starving man! Love the perfect square, it’s so beautiful it even looks like a dessert!
August 12th, 2008 at 6:13 am
je ne sais pas si tu sais, mais je suis tuna-addicted, alors tu penses bien qu’avec une recette comme ça je me mets dans tous mes états…le tout avec un Don pérignon, t’en penses quoi ?
ciao
August 12th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Leave it to you to make something like this. It is absolutely fabulous. I can’t wait to make this!
You’re brilliant! And I agree, this is much more zennish than the tour eiffel.
August 12th, 2008 at 7:43 am
No thanks on the tartare – but yes on the presentation. that presentation is absolute killer. I’m just not the tartare kinda guy. But again, great presentation.
-DTW
http://www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com
August 12th, 2008 at 7:43 am
looks delish!
August 12th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I will be in the Hamptons this weekend as well, and I am not invited to the party! boo hoo!
This tuna dish is beautiful, I will attempt it, but I don’t have high hopes. What a masterpiece!
Stacey Snacks
August 12th, 2008 at 8:54 am
this is some glorious food porn my man. In fact, the eiffel should look like that.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Aside from how delicious this sounds, that is a really interesting presentation. This look sgreat and I hope you enjoy the time off!
August 12th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Wow. I am left speechless at the sheer gorgeousness of that dish. Tuna tartar with crispy shallots? You rock! You know, in my mind, these are the dishes that I make, so beautiful and elegant. Of course, my reality is very different.
Great stuff!
August 12th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Am I seeing double? This is color coordinating with the lychee tart, how groovy! I love the perfect square structure and colors, its way prettier than the Eiffel. Don’t forget to invite us to the dinner parties next time;)
August 12th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
ooh, and it’s like a little neat square and everything! Oh you are clever.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Zen, it’s gorgeous! And I’m starving.
Have fun in the Hamptons!
August 12th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
goodness!! That is so pretty, I’d be reluctant to eat it!
August 12th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
It looks beautiful. I want some right now!!!
August 12th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I’ve about died and gone to heaven. That looks gorgeous, too bad I have no idea where to get sushi grade ahi tuna where I live.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
That has to be one of the most beautiful appetizers I’ve ever seen! Simply stunning!
August 12th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Hi there, I stumbled across your picture on foodbuzz and I have to say, That looks absolutely gorgeous and I would so eat it.
August 12th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Wow now that is a keeper – I love everything about this one and the shape is great -
August 12th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Is absolutely nice and lovely chef Zen. I love it!! Gloria
August 12th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Zen man, don’t tell me that you even have to work during Labor Day weekend?!?
August 12th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
hey i found you on tastespotting and i LOEVLOVELOVE your recipe. a+, i will most def. be trying this ^__^;;
August 12th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Yowsers, that’s a drool-worthy dish! Your plating is so beautiful!
August 12th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Awesome stuff Zenman. This is just beautiful. Good luck with all the new projects….
August 13th, 2008 at 1:28 am
who wants penthouse anyway…i like simple and good man..that will be enough for me..*wink*
August 13th, 2008 at 6:54 am
Completely beautiful, zen-man! Have fun in the Hamptons!
August 13th, 2008 at 7:11 am
That’s a gorgeous tartare.I know I used the word LOVE a lot in your blog but Ahi tuna and anything pricey and posh deserves lots of lovin.Enjoy your Hamptons stay and I’ll be here feeling all jealous.
When it comes to think about it Ahi and avocado really compliments each other..I might also make like a trio of tartare with some mashed edamame in mind.xx
August 13th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Wow!! YOu really have the skills of a three starred Michelin Guide Chef!! This is so beautiful and elegant Zenchef!
August 13th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Zen Dude, you’re right… we are starvin marvin over here. I think your pastel colored Lego dish looks great. It’s got some beautiful color with some crunch. Which is exactly how I like my women. Wait what the heck did I just say?
August 13th, 2008 at 10:36 am
this is absolutely GORGEOUS. the colors, the shapes, the textures, wow!!
*almost* too good to eat
August 13th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
wow!!! it’s beautiful! and i love fish and avocados! i can’t imagine both–it must be bliss!!!
(sorry for all the exclamation marks!)
August 13th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Tuna Tartare is one of my favorites. I always wanted to attempt doing it at home. Now I can. Awesome recipe.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
That’s exactly what I was thinking as I stared at that picture – “miserable two story tower”. you crazy.
that looks beautiful – almost too pretty to eat (except if you’re me!).
August 13th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
This is the type of dish that makes me feel I have died and gone to heaven! I am catching flight tonight expecting to land in Albany. Maybe I can persuade the pilot to drop my off in NYC to eat this instead!!!!
August 13th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Delightful. Stay graceful under all that pressure.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Oh my god, that is simply stunning.
I would have died and gone to heaven if I ever get served a tartare that looks that gorgeous.
That photo is what I call food porn at it’s finest.
sweets&sweats
August 13th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Oh no! Who's going to entertain me at work while you're gone!? I <3 when you make Asian influenced dishes but it makes me feel uh less asian.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:49 am
Will you marry me…oh crap…how many times have I said this while visiting your blog?!!! C’est vraiment trop bon et je paris que c’etait bien bon!!
August 14th, 2008 at 3:23 am
Let me be the earthquake to bring your two story tower down….straight into my mouth! yum!
If your beautiful creation is an example of a dish gone wrong, then you are a friggin amazing chef! I think it looks awesome and can’t imagine where to start to create an eiffel tower! You’re crazy!
August 15th, 2008 at 8:26 am
What wonderful and beautiful colors! Wow. So impressed!
August 15th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Salut mon ptit chat! Moh si, on la reconnaît tout de suite la tour Eiffel. On s’attendrait presque à voir des Japonais faire la queue dans l’assiette.
C’est très ravissant, ton dishing style. You’re an artist darling.
August 15th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
That Tuna tartare looks superb. along with everyone else…love the presentation
August 15th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
That is just lovely, M. Zen. I need to hurry up and get rich enough to have a cute Frenchman be my personal chef.
August 16th, 2008 at 5:47 am
Another Fab dish! Btw i gave you the tree of happiness award… check out my website for more details!
August 16th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I bow to the master…
August 17th, 2008 at 1:50 am
Lovely! Bravo.
August 17th, 2008 at 9:15 am
oh yum
August 17th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
stunning!
August 17th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Hi,
I’ve published a translation of your recipe on my blog – hope you don’t mind (credit given, of course
It is an amazing combination! And looks incredible! A success
http://silviaoviedo.wordpress.com/2008/08/17/tartar-de-atun-con-aguacate-con-chalotas-crujientes/
silvia
August 18th, 2008 at 3:20 am
wow – that is a seriously “cheffy” looking piece of art!
My first thought was lego – but very tasty looking lego
August 18th, 2008 at 4:51 am
Teeth will hurt if we bite into legos mate. =) The tuna looks and sounds better!!!
August 18th, 2008 at 5:32 am
i must apologize 4 not reading in a long time! This dish looks so perfect!
August 18th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
the 2-storey building looks great and colourful:-) Must have been delicious too..
August 19th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Wow that looks absolutely fantastic I’m not sure if I could eat something that looked as beautiful as that. Well done!
August 19th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
I so wish I had the patience to fuss and crate such gorgeous things.
Please visit our blog for a surprise.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
This looks unbelievably good!
August 21st, 2008 at 1:27 am
ZEN dahling. I’m blogging again. It’s good to be back. Oh and btw, this recipe looks yummy
August 21st, 2008 at 9:40 am
Now I wish we were best friends and you were dying for company and you loved to buy the food and have me eat it.
Beautiful, thank you.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:12 pm
absolutely
PERFECT
and not hard to do
and so very pretty
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
yum!
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Okay, this is on my to do list. I adore tuna tartare and that looks absolutely magnificent.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:15 am
That looks amazing!
August 31st, 2008 at 1:59 pm
That really looks very impressive Stephane … very very stylish n irresistible. So this is what you’ve been doing … cant believe i missed so many wonderful posts.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:55 am
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell us if there was a “rest of the menu” that went with this Ahi Tartare.
I can’t stop coming back to this post again and again and again.
September 11th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
This plate is absolutely gorgeous! Food porn at it’s BEST!
April 28th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
This tartare looks wonderful and must taste just the same. Can’t wait to try it.
July 21st, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Looks delicious. You did a great job getting it to look exactly like at BLT Steak.
April 22nd, 2011 at 8:41 pm
AAmazzingg! Made it this valentines day for my bf and we both fell in love. The sauce compliments so perfectly! Didn’t have a square, but the circle came out just as pretty : )