 | France loves tartare. And so do I. It’s raw meat squished together with spices, maybe some cooperative herbs or veggies. They shape it into a little patty and serve it as the main course with vegetables or fries. Here are the main types of tartare I’ve found in Paris. |
First, the above-pictured tuna tartare. This one is just delicious. The tuna is cut up smaller than bite-sized and mixed with lemon juice and green onion. It’s perched on a sturdy slab of avocado puree, with some other tasty goo to hold it together, with a little side of bitter lettuce. I hate leaves, but I ate all this lettuce because the tuna-avocado mix made it go down easy.
Next, my absolute favorite, salmon tartare.
They usually smash it up with avocado, chives, sesame seeds, maybe soy sauce, and lemon or lime. It is absolutely divine, and even though it doesn’t look very big, it’s very filling. My local restaurant, Le Dome, used to serve the one pictured here, but they changed the recipe recently and I don’t like it as much. It has a dairy product (I think it’s creme fraiche, which tastes like the love child of cream cheese and sour cream) and I just don’t think it’s as tasty. Therefore, I switched to the tuna tartare.
One that you’ll see everywhere in France is beef tartare.
This stunning tartare example comes with a raw egg on top. The beef is gently spiced and the flavor is good, but I don’t order it. It looks like cat food, and I just can’t get over that.
Next, my absolute favorite, salmon tartare.
They usually smash it up with avocado, chives, sesame seeds, maybe soy sauce, and lemon or lime. It is absolutely divine, and even though it doesn’t look very big, it’s very filling. My local restaurant, Le Dome, used to serve the one pictured here, but they changed the recipe recently and I don’t like it as much. It has a dairy product (I think it’s creme fraiche, which tastes like the love child of cream cheese and sour cream) and I just don’t think it’s as tasty. Therefore, I switched to the tuna tartare.
One that you’ll see everywhere in France is beef tartare.
This stunning tartare example comes with a raw egg on top. The beef is gently spiced and the flavor is good, but I don’t order it. It looks like cat food, and I just can’t get over that.
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I suppose you could make any of these tartares yourself, at home, if you don’t feel like firing up the stove sometime. Might be nice on a hot summer day. Somehow, though, I just feel like I’d food-poison myself. I’ll leave this one to the professionals.
So if you visit France, try the tartare! It’s low carb and delicious. If you’ve ever eaten sushi, the salmon or tuna varieties will taste familiar. If you’re braver than me, go for the beef.
Have you tried tartare? Comment with your tartare story or photo!
And hey, if you want more raw-meat talk, subscribe to my blog. You won’t be sorry.
So if you visit France, try the tartare! It’s low carb and delicious. If you’ve ever eaten sushi, the salmon or tuna varieties will taste familiar. If you’re braver than me, go for the beef.
Have you tried tartare? Comment with your tartare story or photo!
And hey, if you want more raw-meat talk, subscribe to my blog. You won’t be sorry.