Parisian Tuna Tartare

Parisian Tuna Tartare

Albacore Tuna Tartare in the “French Steak” Style

By many accounts, Restaurant Le Duc was the first in Paris to serve Nouvelle raw fish beginning around 1975, including salmon tartare and tuna tartare. In 1984 at Chaya Brasserie in Beverly Hills, Chef Shigefumi Tachibe put tuna tartare on the map. But STEAK tartare appeared in bistros long before, as early as the late 19th century in France.

This Parisian version of tuna tartare has none of the current popular ingredients – no avocado, no sesame oil, no ginger, no soy sauce. It is prepared in the old style of French Steak Tartare with classic components including onion, capers, pickles, and egg.

The sauce is a combination of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Instead of the standard raw egg yolk, a hard boiled egg yolk is pressed through a course mesh sieve to make a rich fluffy addition to the condiments.

Sushi-quality raw albacore tuna has a soft, buttery texture and mild flavor. The meat of albacore tuna species is white or pale pink in color. Albacore is simply lovely in this Parisian style first course, which is equally stellar as a happy hour appetizer with a glass of Rosé…

Parisian Tuna Tartare

Parisian Tuna Tartare Recipe

Albacore
  • sushi-quality raw albacore tuna
  • high-quality olive oil
  • sea salt and fresh ground black pepper

Cut albacore into small cubes. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Refrigerate while preparing the other ingredients.

Tartare Style Sauce
  • 2 T. mayonnaise
  • 1 t. dijon mustard
  • 1 t. worcestershire sauce

Combine ingredients in a small bowl. Refrigerate while preparing the other ingredients.

Condiments
  • white onion – very finely diced
  • capers – drained
  • cornichons, gerkins, or cucumber pickles – finely chopped
  • hard cooked egg yolk – sieved
  • chives – finely chopped
Buttered Croutons
  • thin-sliced french bread, buttered and toasted

Parisian Tuna Tartare

Place seasoned albacore into small round serving vessels. Arrange condiments around the perimeter. Place a dollop of sauce in the middle.

Parisian Tuna Tartare

Serve with buttered croutons and lemon wedges. A French rosé is nice too.

Parisian Tuna Tartare

Have guests mix up the albacore with condiments then enjoy on buttered croutons.

More Albacore

Seared Albacore, Peppercorn Brandy Cream Flambé here

Seared Albacore, Roasted Mushrooms, Demi-Glace here

More Croutons

Cream of Pea Soup, Goat Cheese Flower Crouton here

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