Lomi Lomi in a Yuzu Ponzu Sauce

cured diced salmon with cucamelons and tomatoes in a small bowl served with butter lettuce and crispy rice

The word “lomi” translates in Hawaiian to “to knead or rub” as the salmon is salt-cured overnight then traditionally mixed by massaging the ingredients together. Lomi-lomi is served as a side dish alongside rice and pork but I also like to serve it wrapped in butter lettuce cups with white rice.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Asian, Hawaiian

Keyword crispy rice, cured, fish, lettuce wrap, lomi lomi, ponzu, salmon, seafood, yuzu

Prep Time 1

Servings

Calories 361kcal

Ingredients

For the cured salmon:

¾ cup coarse kosher salt
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 pound steelhead trout or salmon filet, skin and any bones removed

For the yuzu ponzu sauce:

3 teaspoons yuzu koshu
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
2 teaspoons ponzu

For assembly:

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil (or other neutral oil)
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 medium serrano, seeded and diced
½ cup halved cucamelon (or diced cucumber)
1 medium Haas avocado, pitted, peeled and diced
¼ cup cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons salmon roe, for garnish (optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

For the cured salmon:

In a small bowl stir together the salt and sugar. In a high-sided dish add half of the cure mixture then add the salmon filet. Pour the remaining mixture over the top, patting it into the salmon. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
The next day remove the salmon from the cure and discard the salt mixture. Rinse the salmon in ice-cold water and pat dry. Cut into small, ¼” cubes and add to a medium mixing bowl.

For the yuzu ponzu sauce:

In a small bowl whisk together the yuzu koshu, sesame oil and ponzu until combined.

For assembly:

In a small bowl toss the tomatoes with the grapeseed oil and salt and let sit for 15 minutes. Add the tomatoes to the mixing bowl with the cured salmon, green onions, serrano, cucamelon, avocado and cilantro and gently toss together. Top with salmon roe and serve.

Nutrition