Tuna Tartare Recipe

By
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.
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Updated on 05/31/22
Tuna Tartare
Elaine Lemm
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
241 Calories
13g Fat
14g Carbs
17g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 241
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 33mg 11%
Sodium 184mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 17g
Vitamin C 41mg 203%
Calcium 45mg 3%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 838mg 18%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Tuna tartare is a classic dish eaten around the world where the fresh fish is available. This recipe sticks closely to a traditional version without too many bold flavors, allowing the fresh tuna to sing with the other ingredients there to add subtle back notes and texture.

The key to the success of this tartare is to source the best tuna you can: Sushi-grade is perfect as it means the fish is good and safe for eating raw. Always check with your fishmonger or market to how fresh it is. The fish should look fresh, bright, and perky—when pressed (many shops will not like you doing that but you can ask them to do it for you) will spring back quickly.

The fish should not smell fishy, the aroma should be clean if there is any aroma at all. If in any doubt, freeze the fish for 24 hours, then defrost as added security; or buy frozen which is usually done directly on the fishing boat ensuring supreme freshness.

When dicing the vegetables for this recipe they all need to be roughly the same size and no bigger than a 1/4-inch, or finely diced.

Ingredients

For the Dressing:

  • 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 pinch kosher salt

For the Fish:

  • 4 ounces cucumber, peeled, seeded, finely diced

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 8 ounces sushi-grade tuna

  • 1/4 cup red bell pepper, seeded, peeled, and finely diced

  • 1/4 cup finely diced shallots

  • 1/2 cup peeled and finely diced potato

  • 3 teaspoons parsley

  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise

  • 4 tablespoons thick sour cream, or Greek yogurt

For the Garnish:

  • 1 tomato, for garnish

  • Fresh herbs, for optional garnish

  • Sliced avocado, for optional garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    tuna tartare ingredients
    Elaine Lemm

  2. Place the cided cucumber into a bowl and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and stir then leave for 5 minutes. Rinse quickly under running water and dry on kitchen paper. Keep to one side.

    Tuna tartare cucumber
    Elaine Lemm

  3. Boil potatoes in lightly salted water for 3 minutes maximum. Drain and dry with kitchen paper, then season with a tiny sprinkle of salt and pepper. The potatoes must be very dry before they are used.

    Tuna Tartare Potatoes
    Elaine Lemm

  4. Use a sharp knife to cut through the grain lines of the tuna to create even slices, then cut into cubes.

    Cut the tuna
    Elaine Lemm

  5. In a bowl, mix the tuna and all the diced vegetables, chopped parsley, and mayonnaise. Do this carefully so as to not break up the vegetables.

    Mix tuna tartare
    Elaine Lemm

  6. Place a 3-inch pastry ring in the center of a serving plate and spoon vegetable and fish mixture into it. Press down firmly.

    Tuna Tartare Ring
    Elaine Lemm

  7. Press a small indentation in the center of the tartare and place a large tablespoon of sour cream into it. Smooth the sour cream with a spatula or knife.

    Cream and Tuna Tartare
    Elaine Lemm

  8. Loosen the ring and remove it very carefully. Lightly whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients and drizzle lightly on and around the tartare. Decorate with the tomatoes and fresh herbs (if using) and a little extra pepper. The tartare also works really well with slices of avocado for a more substantial dish.

    Finished Tuna Tartare
    Elaine Lemm

  9. Serve the tartare immediately, or if serving later, cover very lightly with plastic wrap. Eat on the same day, this will not keep longer. Enjoy!