Easy Salmon Tartare Recipe
on Nov 18, 2021
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You’ll hardly find a more elegant appetizer than Salmon Tartare. Despite its fancy name, this dish is deceptively easy to prepare with just a few simple ingredients. Using sashimi-grade salmon and classic seasonings, you’ll have a sophisticated platter that’s sure to impress.
Eating raw fish is nothing new. Raw salmon is a regular feature in Japanese and Asian-fusion cuisine, popularly found in sushi rolls and Hawaiian poke bowls. With salmon tartare, the fish is seasoned with lemons and capers for a more European experience.
What is Salmon Tartare?
As with all tartare dishes (like steak tartare and tuna tartare), this dish is made with raw meat. Salmon tartare is prepared using the highest quality, sashimi-grade raw salmon, which is delicately sliced, seasoned, and served on top of the avocado. Salmon tartare is often spread on a cracker or toasted bread and enjoyed as an appetizer.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Sashimi-grade Salmon: This is the most important ingredient in your tartare. Visit a reputable fishmonger for fresh, high-quality cuts of sushi/sashimi-grade salmon.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds: This simple ingredient is used as a garnish and adds texture to your tartare. You can use black or white sesame seeds.
- Green Onions: Also known as scallions, green onions add subtle, yet noticeable flavor to your salmon. Substitute with chives if needed.
- Capers: Capers have a briny, slightly citrusy flavor that’s divine with raw salmon.
- Onions: It adds a sharp, slightly sweet flavor to your tartare. You may substitute with shallot.
- Lemon: Lemon juice will be used to season your avocado while the zest adds flavor to the salmon.
- Soy Sauce: Salmon and soy sauce are a classically delicious combination. Substitute with Worcestershire sauce.
- Avocado: You’ll want an avocado that’s ripe and creamy, but still a bit firm. Though you’ll be mashing it, an overripe avocado can spoil the dish.
- Salt & Pepper
- Optional Dill and Jalapeno
What Type of Salmon is Used for Tartare?
It’s important to use sushi-grade or sashimi-grade salmon for this recipe. This means that the seller is promising that the fish is fresh and safe to be eaten raw. The fish should have a fresh smell and should show no sign of discoloration.
How to Make Salmon Tartare
- Cut the salmon into 1/3-inch cubes, then add it to a mixing bowl together with toasted sesame seeds, green onions, capers, lemon zest, and soy sauce. Mix well.
- Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit. Cut it into 1/3-inch cubes.
- Add salt, pepper, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, optional dill, jalapeno, and cilantro. Gently mix until combined.
- Place a food ring mold (you can make one at home with a plastic bottle) on a plate.
- Add the avocado mixture at the bottom. Then add the salmon mixture on top. Gently pressing down to make sure there are no gaps.
- Lift and remove the mold gently. Season with more salt and pepper if prefer. Serve the salmon tartare immediately.
Pro Tips
- Don’t make the mistake of combining your salmon with the other ingredients before you’re ready to serve. If you wish, you can prepare the ingredients ahead of time, but they should only be added to your salmon just before consumption.
- For a neat appearance, you’ll be needing a food ring mold to shape your tartare.
- Before removing the mold, be sure to firmly but gently press to make sure there are no gaps.
Can I Use Regular Salmon for Tartare?
No. This is a health risk and can result in you becoming seriously ill. When consuming raw fish, you want fresh, sushi-grade cuts for the best taste, texture and safety. “Regular” salmon isn’t stored in the same way as sushi-grade salmon. The latter is stored at extremely cold temperatures to kill any parasites.
Is Salmon Tartare Safe to Eat?
When properly prepared with the right ingredients, salmon tartare is absolutely delicious and completely safe to eat. Raw fish is a popular ingredient in sushi and poke bowls and has been safely consumed by humans for centuries.
What to Serve with Salmon Tartare?
Salmon tartare is often served as an appetizer alongside crackers or toasted bread. Simply spread the tartare on your cracker for a delectable snack or hors d’oeuvre. Salmon tartare is also excellent with a fresh salad.
Variations
- Spicy Salmon Tartare: For a bit of heat, add some sriracha to your soy sauce or use it to replace the soy sauce. Finely chopped jalapenos can be mixed into your tartare for a mild kick.
- Smoked Salmon Tartare: Prefer to avoid raw salmon? Smoked salmon also makes for a delicious tartare. Simply replace sushi-grade raw salmon with finely chopped smoked salmon.
- Guacamole Salmon Tartare: Salmon and avocado are a delicious combination. Prepare a guacamole with mashed avocado, lemon juice and seasonings and use it as a base for your tartare.
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Easy Salmon Tartare Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz sushi-grade salmon
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds, plus more for garnish
- 3 green onions, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped capers
- 2 tablespoons chopped onions
- 1 lemon, (you’ll need about ¼ teaspoon lemon zest, and 2 teaspoons lemon juice)
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 avocado, ripe
- salt and pepper, to taste
- optional chopped dill
- optional jalapeno, minced
Instructions
- Cut the salmon into 1/3-inch cubes.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add salmon, toasted sesame seeds, green onions, capers, ¼ teaspoon of lemon zest, and soy sauce. Mix well. Taste a piece and add more seasonings if needed.
- Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit. Cut into 1/3-inch cubes.
- Add cubed avocado, salt, pepper, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, optional jalapeno, and dill to a mixing bowl. Mix until combined.
- Taste test and add more salt if needed.
- Place a food ring mold (you can make one at home with a plastic bottle) on a plate.
- Add the avocado mixture at the bottom. Then add the salmon mixture on top. Gently pressing down to make sure there are no gaps. (You can also use a ramekin to shape your tartare. You’ll need to fill it with the salmon mixture and avocado mix. Then reverse it into the serving plate.)
- Lift and remove the mold gently. Garnish with more sesame seeds and cilantro. Serve the salmon tartare immediately.
Notes
- Make sure to buy high-quality sushi-grade salmon for this recipe. You’ll need to cut it into about 1/3-inch cubes.
- It’s best to prepare all the ingredients ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator before making your tartare.
- DON’T mix your salmon with the other ingredients until just before serving.
- You’ll need to use a food ring mold to make your tartare into a cake shape. Remember to press everything gently so that there are no gaps in your tartare.
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
