Spicy Salmon Tartare with Cabbage, Green Beans & Herbs

Bryant Ng reinterprets the spicy Thai meat salad called larb with raw sushi-grade salmon. The result is light, bright and fiery, with heat from two kinds of chile: dried red and fresh Thai. Slideshow: Healthy Thai RecipesRecipe from Food & Wine America's Greatest New Cooks 

Spicy Salmon Tartare with Cabbage, Green Beans & Herbs
Photo: © Christina Holmes
Total Time:
45 mins
Yield:
4 1-course servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

  • 1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce

  • 1 tablespoon palm sugar or light brown sugar

  • 1 cilantro stem, chopped, plus 1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro leaves

  • 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce

  • 1/2 small garlic clove

  • 1/2 small Thai chile

  • 1 small dried red chile, such as chile de árbol—halved lengthwise, seeded and minced

  • 1/4 pound green beans, trimmed

  • 1/2 cup shredded green cabbage

  • Salt

  • 3/4 pound skinless sushi-quality salmon fillet, cut into 1/4-inch dice

  • 1 small shallot, minced

  • 1 scallion, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped mint

  • 1 tablespoon roasted rice powder (optional; see Note)

Directions

  1. In a blender, combine the lime juice with the fish sauce, sugar, cilantro stem, soy sauce, garlic, Thai chile and half of the dried red chile. Puree until the dressing is smooth.

  2. In a medium pot of salted boiling water, blanch the green beans until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain and cool under running water; pat dry. Thinly slice the beans on the diagonal. In a medium bowl, toss the sliced beans with the cabbage and 1 teaspoon of the dressing; season with salt.

  3. In another medium bowl, toss the salmon with the shallot, scallion, cilantro leaves, mint, rice powder and the remaining dried red chile. Stir in the remaining dressing and season with salt. Spoon the salmon tartare onto plates and serve the green beans and cabbage alongside.

Notes

Roasted rice powder, known as khao kua pon in Thailand, is available at Asian markets, but you can also make it at home. In a skillet, toast raw white sticky (glutinous) rice over moderately low heat, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a mortar or spice grinder and let cool completely, then grind to a powder. The rice powder can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months.

Suggested Pairing

Zippy, lemony Albariño

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