What is Tuna Tartare?
Tuna tartare is made from sushi grade tuna. And is also added with asian flavors such as ginger soy, chile, and lime juice to highlight the soft and pure flavor of the raw tuna.
Following, it was invented by an ingenuous Japanese-born chef named Shigefumi Tachibe in 1984. When a group of diners wanted something different and didn’t want meat, so the chef had to work around with what he had.
Soon looking around at the ingredients in the kitchen he was struck with a beautiful idea for a dish. Hence that was the moment when he came up with the idea of dicing the raw tuna into fine chunks. Along with a sauce that is mixed with mayonnaise that is very similar in flavor to the sauce for beef.
Then the group of dinners find its taste pretty goodand insist that the special dish be added to the restaurants menu. Later it was improved upon with Japanese style to make the food more light and more healthy.
Soon tuna tartare grew in popularity as a very quick and delicious appetizer for summer months. Moreover in the 80s it was a great contrasting dish from the usual meals consisting of steak, and helped introduce sushi to diners.
Is Tuna Tartare Safe?
Although tuna tartare is very delicious, you should still make sure that it is safe to eat. Firstly make sure that it has been frozen so it kills off the parasites.
Furthermore ensure that the raw tuna is fresh and an unground meat from a clean source. Hence it’s best to avoid tuna from grocery stores since it went through a long shipping process that increases the amount of bacterias in the meat.
But a great way to kill the microbes that are part of the meat is to thoroughly cook it in high temperature. However this is not possible for our ingredient since tuna tartare needs to be made from fresh raw tuna.
Despite these precautionary measures, you can put aside your worries since in general raw tuna is entirely edible. And there are people who eat sashimi and sushi that is made from raw fish meat regularly in Japan.
Can I Use Frozen Tuna for Tartare?
Firstly it is totally fine to use frozen tuna for tartare, since it helps prevent parasites in the raw tuna. However make sure that you run cold water on the fish or put it in a pot of water for it to thaw.
Additionally make sure that the fish is fine for raw consumption. So if possible find a local fish market that is familiar and has experience with using raw tuna for sushi and sashimi.
Although markets popularize the word “sushi grade”, it doesn’t always symbolize that the fish is good for consumption. Hence what’s more important is that the fish is from a source that you can trust for their handling practices.
Is Tuna Tartare Keto Friendly?
Meanwhile, not only is the tuna tartare totally safe to eat, it is also completely keto friendly. And is very easy to make and doesn’t require much cooking.
Besides that it is also a very delicious appetizer that requires minimum ingredients to make. In addition to the raw tuna it is also popularly together with healthy avocado. Or it could also be served with low calorie and crunchy cucumbers.
But if it’s for a paleo diet, You can test just as easy to substitute with olive oil for making a delicious sauce. Moreover you can replace many of the ingredients necessary to make the sauce with organic ingredients.
Tartare Healthy Benefits
Nonetheless, tuna tartare is also very good for you since according to this source it contains a huge amount of vitamin B in the raw tuna. Which is very crucial to our health since it helps maintain the function of our nervous system, adrenal gland, and hormone production.
Moreover tartare has a lot of protein which is good to introduce into your diet. Which is important for building and repairing tissues, along with being necessary for producing enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals.
Additionally it contains vitamin C which is essential for a healthy immune system. And since raw tuna is served without being cooked in high heat it still contains the vitamin C that is usually gone in cooked food.
Most importantly the reason tuna tartare contains a rich amount of enzyme. Which according to this source is necessary for encouraging healthy digestion and nutrient absorption. Moreover research has shown that decrease in enzymes is linked to degeneration and aging in our bodies.
Tartare Shelf Life
Generally tuna tartare is safe to be eaten the very next day. But as to how long it can last depends on how fresh ingredients were when you make it.
Although it can be eaten the next day you will find it’s quality deteriorates and changes to the texture. Hence you’ll find it is considerably less flavorful than when it was originally made.
What It Taste Like
Firstly, when you take a bite of tuna tartare you can instantly feel the coldness of the raw tuna. Although most people imagine fish and seafood as very slimy and smelly. But contrary to predictions fresh seafood doesn’t have any smell associated with it.
Moreover there’s only this strong and intense sea taste to it when the fish is cooked. And when the tartare is added with some sauce you can instantly taste the flavors in the soy and citrus juice.
Furthermore the soy, chile, and lime juice really enhances and highlights the clean and silky taste of the tuna. Nonetheless when sesame seed is scattered on the dish it also has additional crunchiness as you bite into the meat.
Lastly you have other ingredients on the bottom such as tomato or avocado. Which really add a complementing flavor instead of overwhelming the tuna’s delicacy.
How to Eat Tuna Tartare
Firstly in restaurants you’ll see the tuna tartare coming in the form of a cylinder shape with the raw tuna on top and the avocado at the bottom. And in most restaurants they provide some bread for you to scoop the raw tuna and avocado and place it on top of the bread to be eaten.
So this way the raw tuna will provide a delicate flavor, while the green avocado will provide a contrast in the dish. And if you really like eating raw tuna you can also choose to eat it without adding it to your bread.
What Kind of Fish for Tuna Tartare
Generally for most recipes you will find online people recommend using “sushi grade meat” which indicates the use of fresh tuna. The type of tuna that is commonly used for tekka don sashimi and is red in color.
Meanwhile other recipes recommend the use of fresh yellow fin for the tuna loin. But this depends on the recipe since in some recipes you can substitute the tuna for bass, mackerel, or salmon. Nonetheless, the most important thing is to make sure that the fish is of the highest quality and is fresh.
What Goes Well with Tuna Tartare
Tuna tartare is a delicious appetizer with a rich and buttery flavor that melts in your mouth. But you can also serve other great food on the side to serve with tartare to create a beautiful meal.
Firstly a delightful basic and quick dish that you can easily make at home is a crisp and cool salad. Done by simply slicing some tomatoes and cucumbers.
But another idea that you can easily make and is simply delicious to serve to your guest is some crispy baked sweet potato fry. And I promise you’ll love the potential crispiness of these fries as you munch down.
Another healthy alternative that you can add is some fried rice made with marinated shrimp. Which is not only a delicious side dish to have with tuna tartare it can also be a great part of your weekly meal routine.
Nevertheless, make sure to also include a drink with your meal to complement the flavors. Whether that’s some sake to express the deep flavors of the seafood. Perhaps a nice beer that will draw out the softer delicacy of the tuna.
