A world-class modern Mexican starter featuring cured bluefin tuna on a black masa tostada with burnt avocado mousse, Oscietra caviar, smoked habanero oil, compressed strawberry and tomatillo pearls, hoja santa oil, and mezcal vapor.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 300 g – Sushi-grade bluefin tuna (diced)
- 250 g – Heirloom blue corn masa
- 1 tbsp – Squid ink
- For frying – Duck fat
- 3 ripe – Avocados
- 1 – Charred jalapeño
- 2 tbsp – Crème fraîche
- 2 tbsp – Yuzu juice
- 2 tbsp – Finger lime pearls
- 1 tbsp – White soy sauce
- 2 – Habaneros
- 150 ml – Grapeseed oil
- 2 cloves – Garlic confit
- 6 – Green strawberries
- 4 – Tomatillos
- 100 ml – Champagne vinegar
- 200 g – Chicken skin
- 1 tbsp – Tajín seasoning
- 50 g – Oscietra caviar
- 6 – Hoja santa leaves
- For garnish – Micro cilantro
- For garnish – Edible flowers
- 100 ml – Mezcal
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🍷Sommelier's Recommendation
Bright acidity and minerality complement the tuna and smoke.
Crisp texture enhances the caviar and tostada crunch.
Smoky and clean, pairing naturally with the mezcal vapor.
Steps:
- Dice the bluefin tuna into precise cubes and season lightly with white soy, yuzu juice, lime zest, and sea salt.
- Fold finger lime pearls into the tuna and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
- Mix blue corn masa with squid ink and water until smooth.
- Press masa into ultra-thin rounds and cook lightly on cast iron.
- Flash fry the tostadas in duck fat until blistered and crisp.
- Char avocados directly over flame until blackened and smoky.
- Blend avocado flesh with crème fraîche, charred jalapeño, lime juice, and smoked salt into a silky mousse.
- Smoke habaneros over hardwood embers and blend with grapeseed oil and garlic confit.
- Vacuum seal strawberries and tomatillos with champagne vinegar and coriander seed to compress and pickle them.
- Bake chicken skin between sheet trays until deeply crisp, then pulverize with Tajín into chicharrón dust.
- Blend hoja santa leaves with warm oil and strain until vivid green.
- Arrange the black tostada off-center on a matte plate and pipe burnt avocado mousse asymmetrically.
- Top with cured bluefin tuna and a quenelle of Oscietra caviar.
- Add compressed strawberry and tomatillo pieces around the plate.
- Dot smoked habanero oil and dust lightly with chicken skin chicharrón powder.
- Finish with micro cilantro, edible flowers, hoja santa oil, and serve beneath a mezcal smoke cloche tableside.
Burnt Avocado Mousse
Yield: 2 cups
Ingredients:
- 3 – Avocados
- 2 tbsp – Crème fraîche
- 1 – Charred jalapeño
Steps:
- Char avocados directly over open flame.
- Blend avocado flesh with crème fraîche, jalapeño, lime juice, and smoked salt.
- Process in Pacojet for ultra-smooth texture if available.
Smoked Habanero Oil
Yield: 150 ml
Ingredients:
- 2 – Habaneros
- 150 ml – Grapeseed oil
- 2 cloves – Garlic confit
Steps:
- Smoke habaneros over hardwood embers.
- Blend with warm oil and garlic confit.
- Infuse gently for 1 hour and strain.
More Info
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