Salmon Tartare With Cucumber Salad
The Gastronomer
- Course: Appetizer
- Features: Fast
Summary:
Scraping the flesh off the bones after you have filleted a whole large salmon will yield fine scraps to make this tartare. Otherwise, use sushi-quality or the best-quality salmon fillet you can find.
6 to 8 first-course servings
Ingredients:
- 1 pound skinless salmon fillet, pin bones removed (see headnote)
- 1/2 teaspoon caraway seed, coarsely ground
- Fronds from 1 to 2 stems dill, minced (1 to 2 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 to 2/3 pound seedless (English) cucumber, peeled and cut crosswise into thin slices
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 medium shallots, finely chopped (2 tablespoons)
- Rye crackers, for serving (optional)
- Salmon or trout roe, for garnish (optional)
- Gel and seeds of 1 medium tomato, for garnish (optional)
Directions:
Rinse the salmon fillet and pat dry with paper towels. Use a sharp knife to coarsely chop the fish; this is preferable to using a food processor, which tends to produce a mushy-textured tartare. Combine in a mixing bowl with the caraway seed, dill and a little of the salt.
Combine the cucumber, the remaining salt and the sugar in a separate bowl. Cover with a plate and shake vigorously to coat evenly. Let it sit for a few minutes, then pour off any liquid. Add the shallot and toss to form a salad.
Divide the fish mixture into individual portions, either on plates or on rye crackers, if desired. Garnish with the cucumber salad, a little salmon or trout roe and tomato seeds and gel, if desired. Serve immediately.
Recipe Source:
From Gastronomer columnist Andreas Viestad.
E-mail the Food Section with recipe questions.
(Mette Randem for The Washington Post)
