How to Make Vegan Tuna Tartar

Did you know you can make vegan “tuna” tartar from plant foods? Although that may sound impossible, it’s actually incredibly delicious and easy to prepare. With watermelon and a special marinade of savory spices, this combination can work wonders and can capture the experience of eating sushi. The sweet fruit paired with the citrus, and savory marinade all come together to create an unforgettable flavor experience. While traditional tuna tartare is made with raw fish, this plant-based method gives the appearance of the dish, and we promise it’s not as intimidating as it sounds. Even though these two dishes won’t necessarily taste the same, this refreshing, vegan version is so much fun to make, and makes the perfect snack or party appetizer!

What you need:

• watermelon, cut into small cubes
• lime juice
• soy sauce or tamari
• chili flakes
• black or white sesame seeds
• scallions
• freshly grated ginger
• avocado (optional)

The basic preparation steps:

• You’ll start by combining the fruit juice, soy sauce or tamari, chili, and ginger into a medium mixing bowl.
• Then, you’ll add in the watermelon cubes and mix them thoroughly, until it is evenly coated.
• Allow the mixture to soak for about 10 minutes so that the watermelon has time to absorb the flavor.
• Lastly, sprinkle sesame seeds, onions, or any other toppings of your choice on top, and enjoy!

Watermelon tartare (vegan tuna tartare)

Source: The Chunkie Vegan/Youtube

The Chunkie Vegan shows us how to make his vegan take on tuna tartar. Typically when you go to a restaurant and they’re serving tartar, that means that the dish is raw. This veganized version is made only from plants and adds a refreshing spin to the well-known dish. While watermelon is usually enjoyed as a sweet snack, however, this recipe is savory. The Chunkie Vegan adds olive oil, coconut aminos, seaweed, cayenne, and kelp to the raw watermelon to transform it into a delicious “raw fish”-like meal.

Watermelon Tartare

Source: Watermelon Tartare

This refreshing Watermelon Tartare by Azucena Noriega is perfect for hot summer days, especially as a snack or party appetizer. The combination of flavors completely transforms the watermelon. The citrus juice combined with sesame seeds and soy sauce or tamari gives it a delicious umami flavor that’s unforgettable.

Try out these other vegan “tuna” and sushi recipes too!

• Watermelon Tartare
• Mind-Blowing Watermelon Sushi
• Spicy Tomato Tuna Sushi
• Spicy “Tuna” Maki

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Unfortunately, dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer, and has many side effects. 

For those interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend purchasing one of our many plant-based cookbooks or downloading the Food Monster App which has thousands of delicious recipes making it the largest vegan recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

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