Tahitian Tuna Poisson Cru Recipes

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 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.

SALADE POISSON CRU (TAHITIAN RAW TUNA SALAD)

Steps:

• Cut the tuna into ½-inch thick strips about 2 inches long.
• In a large bowl (preferably glass or stainless steal) combine the lime juice, coconut milk, and salt; stir to mix.
• Add the tuna, carrot, cucumber, tomato, green onions, chives, and lime zest. Stir to mix.
• Taste for seasoning.
• Serve immediately.

TAHITIAN TUNA (POISSON CRU)

Steps:

• Place tuna cubes into a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Take the limes squeeze them over the tuna (make sure no seeds end up in the bowl).
• After add all of the juice from the 8 limes, stir the tuna until it is coated with the juice.
• Allow the tuna/ lime mixture to cook/ cure for about 5 minutes. (The lime juice actually begins to 'cook' the tuna).
• After the mixture has 'cooked' add the diced tomatoes, red onion and cucumber to the bowl and mix well.
• Take the freshly shredded coconut and place in cheesecloth, squeeze the coconut over the tuna (this is the coconut cream).
• Mix the tuna, vegetable, cream mixture refrigerate until ready to serve.

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.