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Vietnamese Tuna Seviche
© Anna Williams

Vietnamese Tuna Seviche

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  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME: 1 HR
  • SERVINGS: 4
  • HEALTHY

Tyson Cole tosses cubes of bluefin tuna, crispy watermelon and squirty cherry tomatoes with homemade nuoc cham, a salty, vibrant Vietnamese condiment made with fish sauce, lemon and lime juice, garlic, ginger, chiles and sugar.

  1. 3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce (nuoc nam)
  2. 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, plus more for sprinkling
  3. 1 1/2 tablespoons water
  4. 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  5. 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  6. 1 small garlic clove, minced
  7. 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
  8. 1 serrano or Thai chile, thinly sliced, with seeds
  9. 1 cup yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
  10. 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  11. 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  12. 1/2 pound cold sushi-grade tuna, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  13. 1/2 pound yellow seedless watermelon, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  14. 2 tablespoons tobiko (flying-fish roe)
  15. 2 tablespoons torn purple or green basil leaves
  1. In a small bowl, stir the fish sauce with 2 1/2 tablespoons of the sugar, the water, lemon juice, lime juice, garlic, ginger and the sliced chile.
  2. In another small bowl, toss the tomatoes with the soy sauce, vinegar and a pinch of sugar and let stand for 5 minutes.
  3. In a medium bowl, gently toss the tuna and watermelon with the dressing. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the salad to 4 plates, allowing as much dressing as possible to drain back into the bowl. Using the slotted spoon, arrange the tomatoes on the plates. Garnish the salads with the tobiko and basil and serve right away.

Suggested Pairing

This salty-sweet-spicy tuna is best suited to sake's nuanced taste.