Category: Fish

Chili Lime Tuna Crudo with Mango Juice


A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to a bluefin tuna carving event with Fleishigs magazine and Akimori restaurant at the kosher.com test kitchen, sponsored by Tuscanini. They brought in a 158lb. bluefin tuna that had been caught that very day in Mexico, and they carved it right in front of us! It was fascinating.

The tuna was broken down into akame (lean), chutoro (medium-fatty) and otoro (fattiest) and prepared in different styles – shashimi, nigiri, torched and lightly seasoned. They also set up a poke bar for us to make our own bowls! It was such a fun way to learn about the different styles of fish and their preparation and we had a blast! The best part was getting to take home a goodie bag of otoro, the most prized part of the fish, and I knew I had to make something extra special. With Passover in mind, I decided to create a bright and fresh mango juice to cut the richness of the fish, and it was epic!! I hope you give it a try!

 

Chili Lime Tuna Crudo with Mango Juice

1 ripe mango
2″ chunk of ginger
juice of 1 lime
3 tbsp water
kosher salt, to taste
1 lb. sushi grade tuna
1 Thai chili, thinly sliced
2 radishes, thinly sliced
handful of microgreens
zest of 1/2 lime
2 tbsp good quality extra virgin olive oil
flaky salt

Method:

Using a blender or food processor, blend the mango, ginger, lime juice and water until pureed. Strain the juice through a fine mesh sieve, pressing down on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Season with salt, to taste.

Using a very sharp knife, thinly slice the fish in a single stroke.

Transfer the fish to a large platter, dispersing it in an even pattern. Using a small pitcher, pour the mango juice around the fish, taking care to fill the empty spaces and not pour it over the fish.

Garnish with radishes, chilies, microgreens and lime zest. Drizzle with olive oil and finish with flaky salt.

Serve cold.


Related Recipes:

sushi burrito

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Yangnyeom Salmon

To know me is to love Trader Joes. No really! I always say, it’s cheaper than therapy (well maybe not anymore!), but whenever I’m having a bad day, or I just need to get out, I head to TJ’s. I love how their products are seasonal and constantly changing, and while not everything is kosher, their products inspire me a lot in the kitchen.

So when I saw their new kosher yangnyeom sauce on the market, I just HAD to have it. Firstly, because it’s Korean, and Korean food is my jam. Secondly because it’s spiced with gochujang, my absolute favorite umami-rich chili paste. And obviously because it’s kosher and pareve – I had to check it out.

Yangnyeom in Korean means “seasoned” or “marinated,” and it’s most famously associated with Yangnyeom chicken, a popular Korean fried chicken dish coated in the sweet and spicy sauce.

Traditional yangnyeom sauce is made with a combination of ketchup, gochujang, soy sauce, sugar, rice syrup or honey, garlic, and sometimes other seasonings like ginger, vinegar, and sesame oil. To me it tastes like teriyaki sauce, only spicier and more umami.

I think it would be great on fried or grilled chicken, meat, or fish!


Yangnyeom Salmon

6 slices salmon fillet
1/2 cup Trader Joes yangnyeom sauce (may sub teriyaki mixed with gochujang, to taste)-
1 pint button mushrooms, sliced
2 scallions, chopped
2 tsp black and white sesame seeds
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method:

Place salmon in a parchment lined baking dish. Top with mushrooms, scallions and sesame seeds. Pour the yangnyeom sauce over it and drizzle with oil. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes, until fish is flaky.

Variation: use thawed edamame in place of mushrooms.

Related Recipes:

panko salmon with almond butter sauce
chili lime crispy salmon
sweet chili broccoli salmon

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Kani Mock Crab Cakes

Friday’s look very different in my house from week to week. With my kid’s leaving to their dad’s every other weekend, I don’t cook for Shabbat every week, and when I do, I’m not always hosting. I have my busy hosting weeks where I plan my menu on Thursday night, write up a shopping list, and shop early Friday morning. And then I have my lazy Fridays where I pull out whatever I have in the fridge from the week and plan a last-minute meal. I love both styles of cooking – one where I have to be more organized, and the other where I get to be creative and play.

This past weekend was the free kind and I had a package of kani leftover from our build-you-own-sushi-bowls dinner on Monday. I had made flaked salmon, so nobody went for the kani, and I wanted to use it up. Mock crab cakes were the obvious choice, and I had some hearts of palm in the fridge, a bunch of peppers, dill from my soup, and plenty of saltines leftover from my stomach virus (so fun!!!)…. the perfect mix for some patties.

Kani Mock Crab Cakes

16oz. kani (mock crab), diced small
1 red pepper, finely diced
2 hearts of palm, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 scallions, chopped
1 cup crushed saltine crackers
3 tbsp chopped dill
1 1/2 tbsp yellow mustard
zest of 1/2 lemon
dash of tajin
1/3 cup mayo
2 eggs + 1 egg white
salt and pepper, to taste
3 tbsp grapeseed oil + 1 tsp toasted sesame oil, for frying

Crumbs:
2 cups panko
1/3 cup toasted black and white sesame seeds
kosher salt, to taste

Spicy Mayo
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp unseasoned rice vinegar
2 tbsp sriracha
2 tsp sesame oil

Method:

In a large bowl, combine the kani, red pepper, hearts of palm, garlic, scallions and seasonings, mix with a spoon until incorporated. Place the crumb ingredients onto a flat plate or small sheet tray and stir to combine.

Press the kani mixture together to form patties and dredge in the crumbs until coated on both sides.

Heat the oils in a frying pan and fry the patties until golden on both sides, adding more oil, if needed.

Serve with spicy mayo.

Related Recipes:

Asian kani bites
kani caesar salad with nori croutons
kani salad

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Sheet Pan Branzino

It’s back to basics here in the kitchen post-Chag. I was lucky enough to travel to Colombia for the holidays, so not much cooking for me – although I did eat – A LOT – and I’m happy to keep things simple, light and easy these days. It doesn’t get easier than this sheet pan branzino. I like to ask my fishmonger to butterfly the fish to take out the bones so it’s easier to stuff and eat!

Sheet Pan Branzino

2 whole branzino fish, butterflied
1 lemon, sliced
a few sprigs of thyme (or herbs of choice)
salt and pepper, to taste
1 pint grape tomates, halved
1/4 cup capers
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Open the fish and season the flesh with salt and pepper. Top with sliced lemon and thyme and close. Spread the grape tomatoes and capers around the fish. Drizzle with olive oil and fresh squeezed lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes or until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

Related Recipes:

Panko crusted salmon
garlic bread halibut
chili lime salmon

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Simanim Ceviche

Believe it or not, I used to be that person who only ordered vegetables rolls at sushi spots, which eventually gave way to tempura rolls, but I was NOT into raw fish. It wasn’t the idea of it, more the texture for me – and I credit ceviche for being my gateway to loving sashimi! The beauty of ceviche is that the fish is “cooked” with acid (usually lime juice), which firms up the fish and changes the texture completely – the longer it sits, the more “cooked” it will be (overnight and it’s flaky!).  Now, I can’t get enough of raw fish – pass me the omakase, and it’s all due to this recipe.

While traditional ceviche uses lime juice, I incorporate all the citrus juices for an unbelievable marinade that’s loosely inspired by Peruvian Tigers Milk. In honor of Rosh Hashanah, I incorporate several simanim or symbolic foods including apple, pomegranate, leek and honey. The resulting dish is a textural dream and flavor explosion.

Wishing you a Happy & Sweet New Year!

Simanim Ceviche
YIELD: 6 appetizer portions

1 lb sushi grade salmon, diced small (may sub tuna or any flaky white fish)
⅓ cup leek, white party only, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, seeds and veins removed, thinly sliced
Handful chopped cilantro
1 small green apple, peeled and diced small
½ cup pomegranate seeds

For marinade:
2” chunk of ginger
1 large clove garlic
Handful cilantro stems
1/4 c lime juice
2 tbsp each lemon, grapefruit and orange juice
1 tsp honey
Kosher salt and pepper, to taste

To prepare the ceviche, place the marinade ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve and discard the solids.

In a large bowl, combine the salmon, leek, jalapeno, apple, pomegranate and cilantro. Pour the marinade over the mixture 30 minutes – 1 hour before serving and stir to incorporate.

Serving suggestions: dip the rim of a glass in citrus juice and tajin. Fill with ceviche.

PREPARE AHEAD: Prepare the marinade and store in a container in the fridge. Prep the ceviche ingredients and store in separate containers (you might want to dice the apple fresh so it doesn’t brown). Combine the ceviche ingredients into a large bowl, pour the marinade on 30 minutes – 1 hour before serving.

Related Recipes:

apple honey mustard salmon
simanim carpaccio
simanim roundup

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