Salmon Tartare with Sesame Crackers in Blue Ice

Salmon is such a versatile fish and makes an expensive but impressive dish to prepare for family and friends. You can, of course, buy ready-made sashimi from local Japanese restaurant, but I think making salmon tartare yourself is what makes this dish special. You can serve it on a plate using a pastry ring, or serve in glasses on ice for more sophisticated look. I colored regular ice with blue food coloring for "blue ocean" effect.



Note: For this dish you must make sure that you use only fish that is extremely fresh, so find a good fish store or large market.

Ingredients:

For the salmon tartare:

• 1 lb wild salmon, finely diced
• 1/4 cup chopped chives
• zest of 1/2 lemon, finely grated
• salt, to taste
• pinch of white pepper
• pinch of dried dill
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. soy sauce

For the sesame crackers:

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 4 Tbsp. butter, very soft
• 1 egg white
• sesame seeds
• dry seaweed (optional)

Directions:

To make the sesame crackers: mix together the flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the egg white into the flour mixture using a spoon. Stir until smooth. Whisk in the soft butter until the mixture is smooth.

Preheat oven to 375F.  Spread about one teaspoon of batter over baking tray making a small round. Repeat to fill the space on tray. Sprinkle each rounds of batter with sesame seed and/or seaweed flakes and bake for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown.

To make a salmon tartare: Combine the diced salmon, chives, dill, lemon zest, soy sauce and olive oil in a medium bowl and stir gently with a spoon to combine. Season to taste with salt and white pepper.

Spoon the salmon in glass and place it on blue ice. Serve with the sesame crackers.