Tuna Tower Recipes

AHI TUNA TOWER

Steps:

• Gently warm the rice vinegar, salt, and sugar in the microwave or on the stove just to melt the sugar and salt.
• In a pressure cooker or rice cooker, cook the rice to package directions. When the rice is cooked, remove it from the pot and mix in the rice vinegar mixture. Spread the rice out in a shallow bowl or plate and allow it to cool completely before using it. This can be done up to a day ahead.
• In a bowl, mix the mayo and sriracha together, taste and adjust to your heat level if you like it more or less spicy. Reserve 2-3 tablespoons for the bottom of the plate.
• First, shred the crab sticks by pulling them apart like you would a cheese stick. This could also be done by shredding with two forks. Mix in the remaining spicy mayo. Just before using toss in the crispy onions and about 1 teaspoon of the caviar if you are using it. This can be made up to a day ahead, store in an airtight container and reserve the onions and caviar.
• In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, Mirin, chili flakes, sesame oil, and grated ginger. Stir to combine. Toss the diced tuna and cucumber in the marinade and let it meld in the refrigerator for about 2 hours, this will hold in the marinade for up to 24 hours. Fold in the chives just before building your tower.
• In an adjustable measuring cup, layer in about 1 inch of sushi rice and tamp it down. Next layer in the avocado, about 1/2 an avocado per tower, and tamp it down tight. Then layer the crab salad in on top of the avocado and the marinated tuna. Tamp them down until tight. This layer procedure is key, do it in the order to prevent your rice from getting soggy and tower from tumbling. Gently press the tower out of the mold. Top with more crab salad, caviar, and a dusting of crispy onions. Spread a line of the spicy mayo and eel sauce on the side of the plate, use a chopstick to make swirls through the sauces to decorate the plate. Serve immediately and enjoy!

AHI TUNA TOWER

Steps:

• Combine the diced tuna, sesame oil, hot sauce, soy sauce, ginger, green onion, and rice vinegar in a bowl. Adjust the sriracha and soy sauce to taste. Place in the refrigerator to marinate while you prepare the vegetables. Meanwhile, peel the cucumbers and daikon and cut into small dice. Place in a bowl. Cut the avocado into small dice and add to the bowl. Stir in the cilantro, sesame seeds, and vinegar and coat the vegetables well. To assemble, use a 2-inch tall by 2-inch diameter cylinder (a small tomato sauce can with both ends removed works well). Place the cylinder on a small appetizer plate. Fill the can halfway with the vegetable mixture then top with the tuna mixture. Press the tuna firmly to pack the ingredients. Lift the cylinder slowly while pressing down on the tuna with the back of the spoon to slide the tower out on to the plate. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Garnish the tuna towers with pickled ginger and wasabi paste and a drizzle of sriracha if desired.

AHI TUNA NAPOLEON

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, vinegar, fish sauce, sesame oil, sambal oelek, ginger, shallot, and lime juice. Gently toss in ahi tuna and 2 tablespoons of cilantro.
• Mash the avocados in a bowl. Add tomatoes, jalapeño pepper, red onion, Tabasco sauce, two tablespoons of cilantro, and salt and pepper.
• Using a ring mold on a flat surface, place a quarter of the guacamole at the bottom of the mold, packing it down with the bottom of a spoon. Then scoop the tuna on top of the guacamole to the top of the ring mold. Garnish with sprinkles of sesame seeds and a slices of jalapeños. Gently remove the ring mold. Serve with my Skinny Baked Wonton Chips or sesame crackers if desired.

TUNA TIMBALE TOWER

Steps:

• Drain tuna and reserve oil. Break tuna into small pieces and set aside. Place half of the reserved oil in a medium bowl. Add lemon juice, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, whisking to combine. Using a 3-inch round cookie cutter, place cutter on center of plate. Layer a quarter of the avocado inside cutter. Top with almost a quarter of the tuna, a quarter of the mango, and a quarter of the cucumber. Lightly press on top of cucumber while removing cutter. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Garnish tops with remaining tuna and a bit of mint. Drizzle dressing over the top. Serve immediately.

AHI AND AVOCADO POKE TOWER

Steps:

• Mix soy sauce, wasabi, sesame oil and green onion together in a small bowl. Add diced tuna and stir to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to marinate for 2 hours. Drain the tuna; discard marinade.
• To construct the tower, mound and flatten the cucumber in the center of a serving platter. Top the cucumber with mango and then the avocado. Place the marinated tuna on top. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
• To serve, place chips around the poke tower for scooping. Or serve with hot sticky (sushi) rice, or enjoy as is as a salad.

TUNA TOWER

Steps:

• Fruit layer Drain fruit if overly juicy; combine with mint and Siracha and chill. Tuna layer Combine tuna and ginger with enough soy sauce to cover. Splash with sesame oil and stir to combine. Chill. Avocado layer Coarsely mash avocado with lime, cilantro and salt to taste. Chill. Assembly Rub the inside of 2 1 cup ramekins with sesame oil. Place 2 mint leaves, face down on bottom of each ramekin. Fill to about 1/3 with fruit mixture, pressing down. Top with tuna and then with avocado mixture, filling ramekin to the top. Top with plastic wrap and place in freezer for 30 - 45 minutes to set the fruit and mold. Mixture should not freeze through. Unmold by running a knife around the edges of the ramekin and inverting onto cold plate. Serve with rice or wonton chips.