Salmon Tartare Recipe

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/24/22
Salmon Tartare

 The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 1 bowl

Salmon tartare is like a classic steak tartare and a seafood ceviche combined. It’s full of fresh raw salmon, herbs, and zesty lime juice. It’s perfect alongside your favorite brunch staples or as a delicious appetizer for a dinner party. This recipe requires no cooking, so it’s best to choose the freshest and best quality ingredients. You’ll love this dish if you enjoy raw dishes like poke.

You can also make this recipe with fresh tuna. Some fresh jalapeño adds a bit of spice, but you can always omit the chile pepper you want to keep the recipe mild. Change up the herbs based on what you can find and what looks the best.

We serve it with cassava chips, but you can also use plantain chips, crackers, crostini, or tortilla chips. 

Ingredients

  • 1 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless sushi-grade salmon filet

  • 1 tablespoon lime juice

  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

  • 1/4 teaspoons sesame oil

  • 1/4 teaspoon lime zest

  • 1/4 cup diced cucumber

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced scallions

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced shallot

  • 1 teaspoon minced jalapeno

  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh cilantro

  • 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh parsley

  • 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • Cassava or plantain chips, for serving

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Salmon tartare ingredients
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  2. Place the salmon filet on a plate and freeze for about 20 minutes. It should be firm, but not frozen solid. 

  3. Slice the salmon length wise into 1/8-inch wide planks. Cut each plank into 1/8-inch strips and then cut the strips into 1/8-inch cubes. 

    Cubed salmon
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  4. Place the salmon into a small bowl and toss with the lime juice. 

    Salmon and lime juice in a bowl
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  5. In a larger bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, sesame oil, and lime zest. Then add all of the remaining ingredients and toss to combine. 

    Add the salmon and gently toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately with your chip of choice.

    Salmon tartare in a bowl
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

Tips

  • To ensure you pick the freshest fish possible, give it a whiff. It should not smell briny and or have a fishy odor.
  • Do not try and make this dish in advance to serving as the lime juice will start to “cook” the salmon and will change its color and texture. You can prep and chop all of the herbs and other ingredients ahead of time to get some of the prep out of the way.
  • Be aware that this is a raw dish and, like all raw dishes, it comes with some risks. 

Recipe Variations

There are lots of ways to vary this recipe. Try adding any of these ingredients, keeping similar flavors together. Dill and mango might not taste the best together, but cilantro and scallion will pair with the sweet mango beautifully.

  • Wasabi
  • Avocado
  • Caviar or row
  • Dill
  • Capers
  • Sesame seeds
  • Microgreens
  • Dijon mustard
  • Chopped fresh mango
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
140 Calories
9g Fat
6g Carbs
8g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 140
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 21mg 7%
Sodium 121mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 5mg 26%
Calcium 8mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 269mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)