Early Bird Special
A quick post on a different way to do breakfast…..can’t start it without eggs.
This may seem weird but I salt cured this piece of Toro Tuna (fatty tuna) for a breakfast meal (replacing smoked lox)…Salt curing meats like prosciutto, pastrami, etc is quite common but you can also cure and smoke fish (smoked salmon for example). Cured tuna isn’t as common but some chefs like to do it. I think cured Toro tastes 100x times better than smoked salmon. It doesn’t even taste like tuna anymore it starts to taste like some smoked ham or prosciutto, but more moist and fatty. It practically melts in your mouth. Also it only takes 24 hours to cure before hand. I used 2 cups salt, 1.5 cups sugar, 1 tablespoon of lime zest, and crushed peppercorns. At the end I also splashed a little less than 2 tablespoons of dry gin on the salt before wrapping everything up. I know too much tuna talk…this is my last post on it I swear!
Lime zest and peppercorns
Wrap everything up, make sure half the salt mixture rests on top and on the bottom of the tuna and don’t forget that small splash of gin. The gin should moisten the salt a bit. Secure the package and place it in the fridge.
After 24 hours……
Once it comes out of the fridge and you wash off the salt, the tuna gets a little drier (from all the salt pulling the moisture out of the meat) and what you get is an intensified toro flavor with the buttery saltiness… I like to eat it right after I wash it and dry it with a paper towel but you can prolong this curing process by soaking the tuna in water, and then hanging it up to dry (like salami) for 1-2 weeks. Then the meat shrinks even more…but I prefer this stage when its salty but still soft.
I placed this piece in the fridge for 30 minutes before I cut it, same concept as putting a ball of mozzarella in the freezer so that when you go to grate it the cheese doesn’t collapse or fall apart completely. I highly suggest you try this (with TORO).
Eggs and potatoes (au gratin). Potatoes were prepared by slicing thin sheets shaped into a rectangle, I used a simple au gratin recipe, heavy cream, butter and some onions. I didn’t use cheese for this gratin because the flavor is too strong and there are so many other “strong” flavors going on in the dish. I used quail eggs because they are smaller and work better with this dish. This is not figure friendly, obviously.
Layer avocados in between…
On top of the eggs, avocado and potato, add the salt cured tuna.
If you can, add some sliced fresh truffles (I got this summer black truffle from Dean and Deluca for 40$, go to the cheese section towards the back and ask for it, they don’t display it)
Past and upcoming posts may be pretty light and quick (I don’t have much time to myself right now and I’m waiting on some custom zippers and snaps to arrive before I start sewing again). Thanks for reading anyway!
Category: Food, Imagefeed 69 comments »
July 24th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jillbee, Shopping and Style and Jillbee, LUXIRARE. LUXIRARE said: http://luxirare.com/early-bird-special/ [...]
July 24th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
can you make me breakfast one day? so stunning, just the photos themselves are works of art (:
July 24th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Voluptuous fooooooooooood. This is how food should be
July 24th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
this looks SO good..amazing photography too
July 24th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Luxirare, I love your toro posts! I’ve never heard of cured tuna before. It must be delicious… Quite ingenius of you!
Are you also concerned as I am that bluefin tuna is slowly facing endangered species status? I makes me nervous whenever I eat tuna dishes at fancy restaurants because I’m not sure if they specifically use the bluefin variety or not.
Hopefully conservation efforts will ensure that generations to come can also enjoy the taste of “otoro”!
July 24th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Potato? Now THAT is a recipe I would enjoy, thankyou.
July 24th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
right about tuna as much as u want.luv it! i especially like the images of the egg in motion. nice! this really made me hungry, adn i hate u for that.;)
July 24th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
amazing pictures! loving the little flowers
July 24th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
These photos are so beautiful and you make the food look so delicious!
July 24th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
ssoooo divinely decadent. I know you’re doing your online store and fashion line now but I’m still holding out for Luxirare: The Eatery
July 24th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Glad there’s a salmon substitute for breakfast! I don’t eat bacon or ham, so I generally only have eggs, mushrooms and spinach. Sometimes salmon. This looks amazing!
July 24th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Mouth…watering….i love the little flowers around the dish…you make me want to be more ambitious in the kitchen!!!!
xV
July 24th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
This is so much better than my simple poached egg with shaved winter truffle breakfast!
*gasp*
July 24th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Only you could make something like breakfast this epic. It looks amazing!
July 24th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
This is basically a combination of all the greatest foods ever. Wow. Well done.
July 24th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
this is so beautiful; the textures, the colours all come together so beautifully. i was wondering, what surface did you photograph on? i love the reflection that you get. beautiful beautiful beautiful!!
xo jo
July 24th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
this looks absolutely wonderful.
July 24th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
oishii-so!
what lens are you using for these photos?
July 24th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
[...] Early Bird Special [...]
July 24th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
that looks immaculate!!!!
and please don’t make this your last post on tuna related recipes!!
every time you post with a toro recipe, its like christmas day, opening presents!
so exciting and dazzling!!
July 24th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
fabulous. wow, i’ll probably never do it, but i enjoyed reading it and might read it again, just for pleasure. (i would like to taste also).
great work, as always.
July 24th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
this is amazing
July 24th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
@christine feel like i’ve been posting about it nonstop though!
July 24th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
@Joey – a black reflective table
July 24th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
Mmm… flavor explosion.
July 24th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
You are a real artist when it comes to food. This is stunning! I hope you open a restaurant/cafe someday.
x
July 24th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
How did you cut the potatoes into such thin squares?
July 25th, 2010 at 12:27 am
your photos are beautiful!
you are beautiful!
July 25th, 2010 at 6:53 am
Oh, post about tuna all you want, I won’t get sick of it when it looks sooo beautifully yummy!
July 25th, 2010 at 8:29 am
OMG OMG OMG! Foodgasm! Just beautiful!
xx
July 25th, 2010 at 8:46 am
WOW! I love the way the truffle looks on top… Gorgeous.
July 25th, 2010 at 9:16 am
Do you smoke the tuna yourself, or do you eat it raw?
July 25th, 2010 at 10:28 am
@ Polley good question- it is VERY common to cold smoke this tuna but I didn’t even smoke it because I think it takes too much effort and the taste in its raw state is very delicious as it is.
July 25th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Stunning photography and obviously, an awesome cook. How about your own talk show already?!
July 25th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
cross-sectional shot is making me drool..
July 25th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
This is the most beautiful post!
The photography, composition and lighting was stunning!
July 26th, 2010 at 1:42 am
Looks so delish!!
Your brilliant.
July 26th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
this is BEAUTIFUL!
July 26th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
i love your food posts! please post more
July 26th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
@Jamie – Lee check http://www.gourmetfoodstore.com/truffles/fresh-truffle.asp
July 27th, 2010 at 12:30 am
Looks delicious and your photos are jaw dropping amazing.
I’m having a giveaway at my blog and I would like to invite you to participate at http://atasteofkoko.blogspot.com/2010/07/ximending-giveaway.html
July 28th, 2010 at 1:14 am
that looks bomb but since your photos are so well organized and clean, maybe you should clean your fork. or use a new one.
…but it looks bomb!
July 28th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
i can’t even believe this… i mean, i love the photos, i love the style. fuck. you’re just very refreshing. no one else sees food like this. thank you.
July 28th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
this post brought me to the verge of tears. so beautiful and articulate
July 28th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
im vegan but i think the second to last picture is absolutely beautiful!
i put it on as wall paper
July 28th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Did you get the toro from a sushi restaurant? If not, where in NYC did you find a fish monger who would sell you such delights?
July 29th, 2010 at 2:03 am
Never such a thing as too much tuna talk.
July 29th, 2010 at 7:57 am
@luxirare but each of your posts on toro is something completely different than the other!
that is why we can’t get enough of it!!
and why we all come back for more!
July 30th, 2010 at 5:36 am
I absolutely LOVE your blog. Please post more food entries!!
July 30th, 2010 at 7:43 am
Gastroporn at its finest! Slurp….
July 30th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Omg! Every ingredient tastes awesome on it’s own, so combining all of this goodness is just genius! I can just imagine the burst of flavors exploding in my mouth! The strong earthy truffle, the salty fatty tuna the explosion of the quail eggs, the mellowness of the yolks and avocado is a nice contrast to all the sharp flavors then the starchy millefeuille like potato y-u-m!!!
July 31st, 2010 at 12:20 am
@pearlescent that was quite a descriptive comment, maybe you should write my posts ha.
July 31st, 2010 at 11:48 am
this looks so ridiculously/awesomely luxe and decadent (toro and truffles and quail eggs!!??!?!) and completely delicious….
August 1st, 2010 at 9:49 pm
@meg it is quite decadent!
August 1st, 2010 at 10:48 pm
whoa
August 4th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Love everything as usual!! But, I’m not getting my e-mail updates from you. ARRGGHH!!
August 5th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
gross does everything have to be soooooo damn close up? like looking at all your food under a microscope first.
August 6th, 2010 at 6:51 am
looks delicious… but but perhaps too much of a guilty pleasure with the use of endangered toro.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/SeafoodWatch/web/sfw_factsheet.aspx?gid=69
come on – try to use sustainable ingredients.
August 6th, 2010 at 7:32 am
WOW THESE ARE SO BEAUTIFUL! IVE NEVER SEEN EGGS LOOKS THIS GOOD..ITS REALLY MAKING MY MOUTH WATER!!!!
August 6th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Wow. I never thought about putting the fish in the freezer. I’ve done some salt-cure before and it didn’t quite work unless I went for the extra drying time.
Now I have to try your method. Hopefully my girlfriend didn’t get ruined on the idea by my previous efforts.
August 8th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Oh, goodness. I love your fashion pieces, but there’s something about the food you make that goes even further above and beyond! Amazing! You use such simple but delicious ingredients, and the care you show them and the way they’re presented – it makes it all that much more decadent. Thank you for the inspiration!
August 9th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
wow, these pics are so beautiful!
August 9th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Wow.
August 10th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Have you been approached with a publishing deal yet?
August 12th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
When I look at posts such as this I shiver in my boots. I really do hope you continue as you are. Keshia Thorndike
August 15th, 2010 at 4:41 am
Wow, you really know how to eat well! Eggs, truffles AND toro. Amazing pictures you have there and no doubt a luxurious and satisfying breakfast too!
August 15th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Man, it’s about godamned time that someone is posting interesting recipes and ideas on tastespotting! It used to be my favorite food blog but now it seems like its more of a housewives diary for baking or learning how to cook recipes. I like your innovation and fantastic photos!
August 15th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
These images are so beautiful. Food as I have never seen it!
August 27th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Genius!!