Poisson Cru Recipes

RAW FISH: POISSON CRU

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the tuna, cucumber, carrots, peppers, tomato, onion, and chives. Gently toss with hands. Season with the salt and lime juice. In the piece of cheesecloth, add the grated coconut. Then gather up the ends and over the bowl, wring out the milk from the coconut by twisting the cheesecloth tighter and tighter; retain the coconut juice for another recipe (notably Prawns with Vanillla Coconut Sauce, also shown on this show). Gently toss the ingredients in the bowl again and serve immediately.

TAHITIAN POISSON CRU (MARINATED RAW FISH)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Dice the fish into 1/2-inch cubes, rinse with fresh water, drain, and place in a large nonreactive salad bowl. Feel free to add a dash of a little salt to the water, but this is optional and a matter of taste.
• Squeeze the limes and pour the juice over the fish. Mix well and chill 15 to 20 minutes in the refrigerator.
• Cut onion and green pepper into thin slices, and cut tomato into small cubes. Remove seeds from cucumber and cut into thin half-moons.
• Drain some of the lime juice, add the vegetables, and season with salt and pepper.
• Five minutes before serving, add the coconut milk . Serve chilled.

POISSON CRU WITH COCONUT MILK AND LIME

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the tuna, lemon juice and some salt and let marinate for 5 minutes. Drain the lemon juice and add the coconut milk, carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes to the bowl. Mix together and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve in a bowl (or half fresh coconut shell if possible) add the scallions on top.

POISSON CRU OR E'IA OTA (TAHITIAN LIME-MARINATED TUNA)

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients together in a large, non-reactive bowl and set aside to marinate for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Drain excess liquid and adjust seasoning. Garnish with some freshly chopped green onions and serve in a decorate bowl or large clam shell.
• NOTES: Make sure to use very fresh, high-quality fish for this dish. Such fish is often marked "sushi grade" in the market. Use other fish - halibut, snapper, swordfish - if you like.
• Other possible additions: cubed red peppers, grated carrots, diced red onion, minced garlic.
• Sometimes a pinch of sugar is added to take the edge off the acidity.

POISSON CRU (TAHITIAN CEVICHE)

Steps:

• Take the tuna chunks and soak in a bowl of seawater or lightly salted fresh water while you chop the tomatoes, onion, cucumber, carrot and bell pepper - (locals swear this makes the fish more tender).
• Remove the tuna from the salt water and place in a large salad bowl. Add the lemon or lime juice and leave the fish to marinate for about five minutes.
• Pour off about 1/2 to 2/3 of the juice (depending on how lemony/limey you like it) then add the vegetables and toss together with the fish.
• Pour the coconut milk over the salad and mix again. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with chopped spring onion or parsley and serve with white rice.

POISSON CRU ("TAHITIAN SALAD")

Steps:

• Combine in a medium bowl the tuna, lime juice, coconut milk, cucumber, scallions, optional chile and coconut, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate 30 minutes to 1 hour. Mix in the tomato and serve right away.