Tuna Tartare

Tuna tartare is the perfect way to eat up a piece of ahi tuna! An impressive appetizer recipe that combines bold flavors with sushi-grade fish.

Got a nice piece of ahi tuna? Let’s do it Tuna Tartar Sauce! The bold flavor combination of soy sauce, lime, and toasted sesame oil makes this sushi-grade fish magical. It’s the perfect spread for crackers or toast. This classic recipe first appeared in the 1980s as a derivative of the French beef-based version, but has multiple incarnations today. Here’s our favorite way to make this an easy appetizer recipe everyone will love.

What is tuna tartare?

Tuna tartare is a dish made with small pieces of sushi-grade raw ahi tuna mixed with spices. Japanese chef Shigefumi Tachibe invented the dish in 1984 at Chaya Brasserie in Beverly Hills. It was originally a variation on the classic French dish beef tartarefeaturing raw beef that’s formed into a dome and topped with a raw egg yolk.

Chef Tachibe noted that his American customers weren’t quick to order raw beef. Looking around his kitchen, he came up with the idea of ​​using ahi tuna as a substitute for beef. Tuna tartare was born. (Learn more here.)

Ingredients tuna tartare

Chef Tachibe’s original recipe for tuna tartare was similar to beef tartare, with French flavors like pickles, onions, capers, tarragon and a mayonnaise sauce. But over the years, restaurants have taken the concept and made variations on it (just like chefs!). A popular variation is to mix ahi tuna with Asian flavors like soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sesame seeds and serve it on crackers or toast. (In fact, it’s very similar to the flavors of Ahi Poke!)

This Tuna Tartare recipe showcases the Asian-style flavors (although we wanted to try Chef Tachibe’s Tuna Tartare recipe!). The ingredients you need are:

• Sushi grade ahi tuna
• soy pasture
• lime juice
• rice wine vinegar
• Toasted Sesame Oil
• chives
• coriander
• Fresno pepper or jalapeno pepper
• Sesame seeds

Note: Avocado is often used in tuna tartare. We chose to avoid it here as we prefer the texture without and it’s better kept in the fridge.

What to look out for when buying Ahi Tuna

Since you’re using raw fish for the tuna tartare, look for ahi tuna labeled Sushi or sashimi quality. Although there are no specific regulations on the sushi quality label, it means it is high quality fish that is safe to eat raw. (Read more here.) Look for a tuna steak that is firm in texture and bright red in color at your local fish store.

You can also find frozen sashimi-grade ahi tuna at some grocery stores. It is sold in a small box and is intended for preparing sushi or sashimi at home. But it is also perfect for preparing tuna tartare! If you buy frozen, take it out of the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge on the day of delivery.

Two ways to serve tuna tartare

There are two ways to serve tuna tartare: plain or on crackers or toast as an appetizer. Here are some details about each:

• Shaped in a dome or a shell: The original tuna tartare was served shaped like French beef tartare in a dome. You can serve it this way and it will make for a heavy appetizer or even a main course. It also works in a bowl.
• On crackers or toast: It is customary to serve tuna tartare on crackers or toast as an appetizer. You can also get creative and serve in wonton cups, with plantain chips, on top of cucumber slices, etc.

Preparing and serving tuna tartare: a few tips!

Skip straight to the recipe when you’re ready to make Tuna Tartare! Here are some tips for preparation and serving:

• Slice the tuna against the grain. Here’s how you can slice it without skinning the fish! Cut across the grain for beautiful pieces.
• Place all ingredients in a bowl, serve immediately. It’s that simple: just mix with all the flavors below and you’re done. It tastes fantastic right away.
• Or you can store in the fridge for up to 1 day. It is also very good after cooling! We prefer it freshly made, but you can also make it in advance.

And that’s it! Let us know if you try our recipe below: and remember! There are many ways to prepare tuna tartare.

More ahi tuna recipes

Ahi tuna is one of our favorite ingredients to work with! Here are some other tuna recipes to prepare it:

This Tuna Tartare Recipe is…

Pescetarian, gluten free and dairy free.