Holiday Entertaining 2001: Hors D'Oeuvres


  Tuna-Wasabi Wonton

The Chef
JEAN-GEORGES VONGERICHTEN of Jean Georges, Vong and Jo Jo

Servings
Yields 24 pieces.

Ingredients
24 wonton skins
1 8-ounce tuna steak, about 1 and a 1/2 inches thick
1 cup cream cheese
2 tablespoons wasabi paste
1/2 lime, juiced
Salt
1/4 cup white sesame seeds, toasted
1/2 cup pickled ginger

Cooking Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut a 2-inch circle from each wonton skin using a cookie cutter. Place the circles on a large cookie sheet and bake for about 5 to 7 minutes, until the wontons look puffy and turn golden around the edges. Set aside to cool.

Slice the tuna into 11/2-inch cubes and cut each cube into 1/8-inch-thick squares. Mix the cream cheese with the wasabi until smooth, and season to taste with lime juice and salt. Spread a thin layer of the cheese mixture onto the wonton, place a little slice of pickled ginger on top, and finish with a square of tuna. Sprinkle the tuna with sesame seeds.