Poisson Cru Recipes

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.

GRILLED HALIBUT POISSON CRU

Steps:

• For the sauce: In a bowl, blend the coconut milk, coconut flakes, chili sauce, corn syrup, parsley, tomato paste, salt and lime juice and allow to marinate for 30 minutes. Then pour through a sieve or strainer into a saucepan. Heat over low heat until warmed. Whisk in the butter off the heat before serving.
• For the fish: Preheat the grill to 350 degrees F or a grill pan over high heat. Then sprinkle the fish with salt, pepper and the coriander. Cook the fish on both sides until medium-well in temperature, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Once cooked, remove from the heat and rest for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Serve the fish over jasmine rice. Finish with the sauce.

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.

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.

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.