AHI TUNA PARFAIT WITH TWO CAVIARS

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Ahi Tuna Parfait with Two Caviars image

Every cook should have a repertoire of showoff dishes as easy to make as this one. It consists of molded layers of silken ahi tuna and two caviars, the pungent wasabi-spiked tobiko, which is flavored flying fish roe, and osetra, the deliciously briny eggs of the like-named sturgeon. I don't advocate using deluxe ingredients just because they're deluxe, but this dish gives them a perfect showcase.

Provided by Ming Tsai

Categories     appetizer

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon wasabi tobiko
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 pound #1 grade ahi tuna, cut into very small dice
3 dashes Tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon finely chopped chives, plus 8 whole chives
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 ounces wasabi tobiko
2 ounces osetra caviar

Steps:

  • To make the vinaigrette, combine the mustard, vinegar, oil, and tobiko in a small bowl. Season with the salt and pepper and whisk lightly.
  • In a small chilled bowl, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Reserve.
  • Fill a large bowl with ice. Place a medium bowl in the ice and add the tuna, Tabasco sauce, chopped chives, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste and mix lightly.
  • Spray the insides of four 1- to 1 1/2-inch ring molds, or tuna cans with tops and bottoms removed, with nonstick cooking spray. Layer the tuna mixture and caviars in the molds as follows: one-eighth of the tuna, one-fourth of the tobiko, one-eighth of the tuna, one-fourth of the osetra. Press down lightly on the parfaits after each layer with the bottom of a Tabasco bottle (it's the perfect size) or the butt end of a whisk. Top the layers with a thin layer of the cream, smooth to cover, and unmold cream side up onto white serving plates. Or use the Tabasco bottle to push the parfaits from the bottom, then carefully lift them onto a plate. Garnish each portion with 2 chives. Drizzle the vinaigrette around and serve with demitasse spoons.

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