I wanted to create a tartare dish that was finger food. After looking through my books I finally decided to adapt this recipe from Cindy Pawlcyn.
It is critical to get the absolute best sushi-grade tuna for this recipe. Yes, it costs a small fortune, but you need just a little bit.
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Ingredients:
Tuna and toppings:
6-8 oz sushi grade tuna, sliced fine or minced
Wasabi paste or wasabi powder mixed with some water or sake
Dill fronds
Roasted seaweed, cut into squares with a scissor
Endive (green or red) leaves, pulled apart
1 avocado, cut into slices (optional)
Toasted sesame seeds (optional)
Cucumbers:
1 English cucumber, sliced into thin ribbons, preferably using a mandolin
1 teaspoon salt
1 jalapeno chilli, sliced
2-3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
Mix together and marinate for 1 hour or overnight
San bai su sauce:
1 tablespoon tamari sauce
2 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon mirin
Mix together. This sauce can either be mixed in with the tuna or drizzled on top of the dish when assembled.
Assembly:
Lay the endive leaves down. Add a drop or two drops of the wasabi sauce, or brush on lightly for a more even spread. Top with a long slice of the pickled cucumber. Add about 1 generous teaspoon of tuna on top of the cucumber. Add 1 small dill frond to the top of the leaf. Top with a drizzle of the sauce if you have not mixed it into the tuna already. Top with seaweed, avocado and/or toasted sesame seeds, as desired.
Serve immediately.