Kretes Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Herbed tuna carpaccio with pickled cucumber and bean salad

Herbed tuna carpaccio with pickled cucumber and bean salad

Thinly sliced marinated tuna makes a stunning, yet surprisingly easy starter, served with a mixed bean salad.

For the tuna

For the salad

1 cucumber, halved lengthways, seeds removed, finely sliced
150ml/5fl oz rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp Kretes Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tbsp caster sugar
1 red chilli, seeded and finely sliced
1 red onion, finely sliced
½ x 400g/7oz canned mixed beans, such as borlotti beans, butter beans and cannellini, rinsed and drained
2 tbsp flatleaf parsley, roughly chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
50g/2oz mizuna leaves, to serve (optional)

Rub the tuna with the lime juice.
Mix the herbs together and place onto a sheet of cling film on a flat surface.
Place the tuna on top and roll in the herbs, to cover completely.
Roll the cling film up tightly around the herb-coated tuna to form a tight cylinder, twisting the ends to seal. Place into the freezer for two hours.
For the salad, place the cucumber into a frying pan and place over a low heat. Warm the cucumber until the excess water evaporates.
Add the vinegar, sugar and chilli and bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat.
Place the onion into a bowl and pour the cucumber mixture over the top. Stir well, then set aside to cool.
When the cucumber and onion mixture is cool, add the beans and parsley and mix well to combine. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
To serve, remove the tuna from the freezer. Using a sharp knife, slice the tuna very thinly and place onto a serving plate in a circle.
Place some mizuna leaves into the centre (if using) and top with a spoonful of the cucumber and bean salad.