Ahi Tuna Tartare w/ Avocado, Crispy Shallots & Soy-Sesame Dressing

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.

Anyway, if i’m not posting too much these days it’s because i’m busy figuring-out the logistic of a few fancy dinner parties 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.

Ahi Tuna Tartare w/ Avocado, Crispy Shallots & Soy-Sesame Dressing
(serves 6)
Inspired by Chef Laurent Tourondel of BLT.

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!

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  • Joanna

    oh yum

  • terry

    stunning!

  • silvia

    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

  • The Caked Crusader

    wow – that is a seriously “cheffy” looking piece of art!
    My first thought was lego – but very tasty looking lego

  • daphne

    Teeth will hurt if we bite into legos mate. =) The tuna looks and sounds better!!!

  • Lovely Lady Brown

    i must apologize 4 not reading in a long time! This dish looks so perfect!

  • Shreya

    the 2-storey building looks great and colourful:-) Must have been delicious too..

  • Angie

    Wow that looks absolutely fantastic I’m not sure if I could eat something that looked as beautiful as that. Well done! :)

  • giz

    I so wish I had the patience to fuss and crate such gorgeous things.

    Please visit our blog for a surprise.

  • Lisa

    This looks unbelievably good!

  • F.O.T.

    ZEN dahling. I’m blogging again. It’s good to be back. Oh and btw, this recipe looks yummy

  • Joanna

    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.

  • cook eat FRET

    absolutely
    PERFECT

    and not hard to do
    and so very pretty

  • mich

    yum!

  • Jack

    Okay, this is on my to do list. I adore tuna tartare and that looks absolutely magnificent.

  • Jan

    That looks amazing!

  • Kate / Kajal

    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.

  • Chispa

    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.

  • One Food Guy

    This plate is absolutely gorgeous! Food porn at it’s BEST!

  • http://www.rodaround.blogspot.com/ Rodrigo

    This tartare looks wonderful and must taste just the same. Can’t wait to try it.

  • A Food Eater

    Looks delicious. You did a great job getting it to look exactly like at BLT Steak.

  • KBCartier

    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 : )