HEALTHY MEXICAN JAPANESE TOSTADAS

Japanese-Mexican?? Really? Let me explain. Mike and I have recently returned from a trip to Japan. My first time there. Eyes falling out of my head. Inspiration everywhere! What an incredible country. We ate like royalty. From Izakaya (pub food) to Kaiseki (beautifully presented small dishes). From Ramen (noodles in a gorgeous broth) to Yakitori (perfect skewers of proteins and veggies). But then, we happened upon a little Mexican bar in Takayama, a town straight out of a glorious dream, and drank margaritas and Mexican beer accompanied by more-ish crunchy nachos. Two helpings of everything. That little meal is now firmly stuck in my head, hence this inspired recipe, which I just had to try as a reminder that sometimes the merger of two cuisines can really work.

INGREDIENTS

2 x flour tortillas (if you can get corn tortillas, even better. I couldn't)

vegetable oil

150g fresh sashimi grade tuna (or 150g tin of sustainable tuna, drained)

zest and juice from 2 limes

1 tbsp pickled or fresh jalapenos, seeds removed and chopped finely

1 clove garlic, minced

sea salt to taste

1 red capsicum (bell pepper) trimmed and diced

1 ripe avocado, stone and skin removed, diced

2 or 3 slices of fresh pineapple or mango, diced

2 or 3 shallots, peeled and chopped

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (coriander)

sea salt to taste

METHOD

Preheat oven to 200C.

Brush the tortillas with oil on both sides and lay flat on a roasting tray lined with baking paper.

Bake in oven for about 6 or 7 minutes each side, flipping once.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix your fresh or tinned tuna with the lime zest and juice, chopped jalapeños, minced garlic and sea salt.

In a larger bowl, mix the chopped capsicum, avocado, pineapple or mango (or both) and shallots.

Now that the tortillas are lovely and golden and crunchy, layer with the tuna mix, then the veggie/fruit mix and sprinkle over the chopped cilantro.

Add a little more lime juice to zing it up even more and enjoy!

Serve with cold Mexican or Japanese beer, margaritas or sake...