Healthy Holiday Helpings: Tuna Tataki Appetizer

Oh, holidays. The cookies, the turkeys, the hams, the chocolates, the indigestion, the bloating, the guilt, the regret...oh, holidays. Every year you think, next year I'll do better-I promise. But how? While you might not be able to overhaul the entire holiday menu, there are a few changes you can make that will lessen the post-feasting pain.

One thing you could do is add a little tuna to your meal. Not that canned stuff but fresh sashimi-grade tuna. It not only won't add inches to your waist, it is very good for you. Tuna Tataki can be found at many sushi bars, but it's super-easy to make at home.

Ingredients:

1 pound sashimi-grade tuna steak
1 large carrot
1 large cucumber
1 small bunch green onions
1 small tomato
1/4 cup Ponzu sauce (a light citrus sauce-can be found in the Asian section of a grocery store)
some sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

Lightly sear the tuna steak in olive oil. You should only have about a quarter inch of the tuna seared-it should still be cool in the middle. Julienne the carrot, cucumber and green onions. Chop the tomato. Slice the tuna against the grain in half inch slices. Put all the veggies and the sliced tuna in a bowl with the Ponzu sauce. Let it marinate for a few minutes and serve! Sprinkle each serving with sesame seeds if you would like. Serves 4.

It literally takes about 15 minutes from start to finish. This is such a light dish, but it is packed with so much texture and flavor, you won't care that it's good for you!