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Fish, Africa and overseas

Tahitian style raw fish with rice

Tahitian style raw fish is a dish of fresh tuna marinated in lime, topped with coconut milk and served with rice and crunchy vegetables. It serves 4, takes 30 minutes, rates as very easy, and costs about €4.30 per person. The key is not letting the tuna marinate in lime for more than ten minutes.

Tonight we're off to Tahiti with raw fish, tuna marinated in lime and topped with coconut milk, served with rice.

Tahitian style raw fish with rice
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€4.30
Calories per person
620 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer

Tahitian style raw fish plays on contrast, the cold melting tuna against crisp cucumber and carrot, rounded out by coconut milk poured in at the last moment. The lime juice marks the tuna without fully cooking it, keeping a tender texture close to a tartare, but brighter and more refreshing.

It takes few steps and no real cooking, perfect for a summer evening when turning on the oven feels like too much. Mon Chou suggests it for meals where you want to surprise without spending hours in the kitchen, with friends or just the two of you, better suited to adults than kids because of the raw fish.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Fresh sushi grade tuna 500 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Limes 5
  • Cucumber 1
  • Carrots 2
  • Tomatoes 2
  • Red onion 1
  • Chives 1 sprigs

Pantry

  • Coconut milk 20 cl
  • Riceoften in the pantry 250 g
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Fish

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the tuna into small cubes and drizzle it with the juice of four limes, with a pinch of salt. 10 min

    Buy tuna labeled safe for raw consumption and keep it cold until the last moment.

  2. Cook the rice in salted water, then let it cool slightly. 11 min

    Warm rice pairs very well with cold fish.

  3. Cut the cucumber, grated carrots, tomatoes and red onion into small pieces.

    Keep the vegetables crisp, they contrast with the fish.

  4. Drain the tuna lightly, mix it with the vegetables and pour in the coconut milk.

    The lime juice "cooks" the fish, don't marinate for more than ten minutes.

  5. Serve the raw fish over the rice with chopped chives and a squeeze of lime.

    Serve chilled, it's a warm weather dish.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick tuna that looks deep red and firm, without a strong smell, a sign of the freshness you need for raw preparations.
  • Cut all the vegetables into similarly sized pieces so every bite balances fish and vegetables evenly.
  • Prep the rice and vegetables ahead of time, but only mix the tuna with the lime juice right before serving.

The variations

  • Swap the tuna for fresh sashimi grade salmon for a version that's just as tender.
  • For a version without raw fish, marinate firm tofu cubes in the same lime juice and coconut milk.
  • To save time, ask your fishmonger to dice the tuna for you and skip the fine cutting step.

What to serve it with

  • Plain white rice
  • Tropical fruit salad
  • Chilled fresh fruit juice

Storage

This dish is best eaten the same day, once the tuna is marinated. If needed, keep the marinated tuna separate from the coconut milk, for at most one day in the fridge in a sealed container. It doesn't freeze well, the raw fish would lose its texture.

Questions about this dish

Can you use frozen tuna for this raw fish dish?

Yes, as long as it's been frozen for at least 48 hours, which removes the parasite risk. Thaw it slowly in the fridge before cutting it into cubes.

How long should the tuna marinate in lime juice?

Ten minutes is plenty. Any longer and the lime starts cooking the fish deeper, making the texture firmer and less tender.

Can you prepare this dish ahead for guests?

You can chop the vegetables and cook the rice a few hours ahead. But only combine the tuna, lime juice and coconut milk right before serving.

Can you replace the coconut milk with something else?

You can use coconut cream thinned slightly with water for a thicker texture. The flavor stays close, but the sauce will be less runny.

How long does it take to make a Tahitian style raw fish with rice?

Count 30 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a Tahitian style raw fish with rice?

About 620 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Tahitian style raw fish with rice cost?

About €4.30 per serving, or €17.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains fish. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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