Description
This 25-Minute Salmon Tartare is a fresh, vibrant, and easy-to-make appetizer featuring sushi-grade salmon finely diced and tossed with olive oil, red onion, capers, jalapeño, Dijon mustard, lemon zest and juice, and fresh chives. Perfectly served with crostini, crackers, or fresh crudités, this no-cook dish bursts with bright flavors and makes an impressive starter for any meal.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh salmon (skin removed, sushi-grade or extremely fresh)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil (mild flavor)
- ¼ small red onion (very finely diced, about 3 Tbsp)
- 1 heaping Tbsp capers (drained and roughly chopped)
- ½ small jalapeño (finely diced)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 lemon (about 1 tsp lemon zest and 2–3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice)
- 2 tsp fresh chives (thinly sliced)
For Serving
- Crostini, thinly sliced baguette, crackers, chips, or crudité (such as endive leaves)
- Alternatively, a bed of mixed salad greens
Instructions
- Optional Freezing: If you’re not comfortable slicing fresh salmon, place it in the freezer for about 15 minutes to firm up, making it easier to cut. This step is optional but helpful for precise dicing.
- Cut the Salmon: Pat the salmon dry with paper towels. Slice the filet into ¼-inch thick planks, then cut those planks into ¼-inch strips. Rotate the strips and cut into ¼-inch dice. Transfer the diced salmon into a mixing bowl.
- Toss Ingredients: Add olive oil, finely diced red onion, chopped capers, Dijon mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice (2–3 Tbsp depending on acidity preference), diced jalapeño, and thinly sliced chives to the salmon. Toss well to combine all flavors evenly. Let the mixture sit for 5–10 minutes to meld flavors. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve: Serve the tartare in a bowl or mold it into a neat 3-inch round ring on a plate by pressing down firmly. Refrigerate until serving. Accompany with crostini, baguette slices, crackers, chips, crudité, or serve over mixed salad greens for a lighter option.
Notes
- Use sushi-grade or extremely fresh salmon to ensure safety and best flavor when served raw.
- Adjust jalapeño quantity depending on your heat tolerance.
- Allow the tartare to rest for a few minutes to develop deeper flavor.
- Serve immediately after preparation or keep refrigerated until ready to serve to maintain freshness.
- If not serving immediately, cover tightly to prevent drying out.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
