Sunday, August 3, 2008

Sushi - Deconstructed




I love sushi - but I'd rather leave the work to the experts. I'm not sure I could roll it tightly enough or balance the ingredients in the correct proportions. Tonight I had a sushi craving, but no desire to head off to the nearest (not-so-nearby) sushi bar. Luckily, I always have a couple frozen tuna steaks on hand, as well as a stash of pickled ginger and a very ripe avocado.

So we had pacific rolls without the roll: Chewy seasoned brown rice, tender strips of tuna steak - grilled to medium rare, slices of buttery avocado and pungent pink strips of ginger. If you enjoy sushi, this is a meal sent from heaven. Not to mention it's good for you - with the tuna and avocado providing heart healthy fats including omega-3s, the rice providing fiber and nutrients and the ginger's antibiotic properties.

Deconstructed Pacific Roll



2 cups vegetable stock
1 tsp sesame oil
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp ponzu sauce
1 Tbsp wasabi powder
1 Tbsp Japanese rice seasoning I like one with Nori strips, sesame seeds, bonito flakes and salt

1 cup brown, mahogany and wild rice medley

2 tuna steaks, brushed with olive oil and grilled until medium rare (no more than one minute on each side)

1 avocado, split, pitt removed and sliced thin then scooped from the skin

4 oz. pickled ginger

good quality teriyaki sauce such as Soy Vay
ponzu sauce
Japanese rice seasoning



Combine stock, oil, vinegar, ponzu and seasonings in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Stir in rice, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 50-60 minutes, or until rice is cooked through and liquid has been absorbed.

Let the tuna rest for at least 5 minutes after it comes off the grill. Then slice thin, against the grain and arrange each steak atop a bed of rice. Add 1/2 sliced avocado to each, along with a small pile of pickled ginger. Drizzle with teriyaki and/or ponzu and sprinkle with seasoning.

6 comments:

P said...

I almost always want to leave the same comment! YUMMY! Now I want sushi desperately, but at least in Towson there are 5 sushi bars on one street but I will have to wait till payday :) cya tomorrow

Camille said...

Fantastic! Great photo and looks delicious.

Heather said...

looks good! that avocado is beautiful!

Dee said...

Hey, this is a really clever way around all that rolling! My DIY sushi is always fat and floppy, and it falls apart just as you lift it to your lips.

Jen said...

This looks really good-- I haven't made fish in a while and its been so hot here I haven't wanted any of the usual preparations but I think this would be perfect (if I could just find some really good fresh fish to make it with...)

Melissa said...

LOVE this. I was craving sushi yesterday and now I'm craving it more. Lunchtime is almost here...

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