Salmon Tartar - Asian Style

Served here with baked Lays potato chips or toasted baguette

In our family we use the expression ''mish mash'' to describe a dinner when we will just go through the fridge and freezer and put a bunch of easy (but good) things together to create a meal.  Actually, this is one of our favorite ways to eat because everyone prepares their favorite item and it all comes together buffet (or tapas) style.

For me, the  best part of this custom is that everyone lends a hand and we get to spend time together preparing the meal and eating it.

Usually, the items are cold, like a variety of salads, humus, cheese and fresh baguette and whatever is left over that can be quickly heated up.

Salmon tartar is often one of my contributions.   If I have time to stop at the market and get really fresh salmon, this is the best.   Unfortunately, I can't always do that but, because we are big fans of salmon, especially Kat,  I often have organic wild pacific salmon fillets in the freezer and this works just as well.

This recipe was inspired by one of my favorite maki rolls (spicy salmon).  I always have the ingredients on hand so this is very quick and easy to prepare.

You will need:  for about 12 crostini size portions or 4 starter size portions 

• 280g fresh salmon or good quality frozen salmon fillets (wrap the fresh salmon in plastic wrap and put in the freezer for about 1/2 hour - this is not essential but is a tip to help with the cutting process)
• 1/2 English cucumber, unpeeled, center seed section removed, diced small
• 2 tbsp of sushi ginger, diced very small (pickled ginger served with sushi)
• 2 tbsp of soy sauce
• 1 tbsp of sesame or nut oil (make sure the sesame oil you use is fresh and does not have a bitter taste.  If you don't have sesame or nut oil, you can use olive oil)
• 1 tbsp of sriracha sauce (spicy Asian sauce), you can adjust to your own taste
• 1 tbsp of sushi rice vinegar
• salt to taste
• baguette, sliced and toasted
• slivered nori sheets for decoration (optional)

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1. Cut the salmon into small dice (I don't recommend using a food processor for this as it will not give the tartar the right consistency);
2. Put all the ingredients (except last two) together in a bowl and mix well;
3. Refrigerate and let the flavors blend for at least one hour;
4. Serve on toasted sliced baguette.