A vibrant palette of color awaits you atop a pristine white plate. Slices of yellowtail possess a slight translucence and a soft pink hue, adorned with deep green ribbons of cucumber and bright red and orange patches of heirloom tomatoes. Ground wasabi peas add bursts of jade amidst dainty flakes of sea salt. The dish is garnished with deep red shiso leaves and a sprinkle of black sesame seeds, creating an artful display that excites the eyes.

Japanese Paleo Yellowtail Salad

Name: Japanese Paleo Yellowtail Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: Fresh Yellowtail (Hamachi), 1 lb thinly sliced; Heirloom Tomatoes, 2 medium-sized coarsely chopped; Japanese Cucumber, 1 large julienned; Shiso Leaves, 8 for garnish; Wasabi Peas, ¼ cup ground; Black Sesame Seeds, 2 tsp none; Extra Virgin olive oil, 3 tbsp none; Lemon, 1 juiced; Sea Salt, to taste none

Category Main Course

Prep 20 minutes

Cook 0 minutes

Style Japanese

Technique Raw

Diet Friendly Paleo

Daily Recipe: August 18, 2025

This Paleo-friendly, Japanese-inspired dish encapsulates the delightful balance of umami, sweet, and savory flavors through its key ingredients, namely the fresh yellowtail, heirloom tomatoes, and Japanese cucumber. The refreshing nature of the salad perfectly suits the day's climate, offering a light yet satisfying meal that highlights the season's produce at their peak of freshness.

Ingredients (for 4)

Fresh yellowtail (hamachi) - 1 lb - thinly sliced
Heirloom tomatoes - 2 medium-sized - coarsely chopped
Japanese cucumber - 1 large - julienned
Shiso leaves - 8 - for garnish
Wasabi peas - ¼ cup - ground
Black sesame seeds - 2 tsp - none
Extra virgin olive oil - 3 tbsp - none
Lemon - 1 - juiced
Sea salt - to taste - none

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍽️🐟👌

Arrange the thinly-sliced yellowtail on the serving dishes.
Step 2 - 🍽️🍅🥒

Evenly distribute the chopped heirloom tomatoes and julienned cucumber on top of the yellowtail slices.
Step 3 - 🥗🍋💦

Drizzle each plate generously with olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Step 4 - 🍽️🎋🧂

Sprinkle the ground wasabi peas over the dish, followed by the black sesame seeds and a light scattering of sea salt.
Step 5 - 🌿🍽️⏱️

Finish off each plate with two shiso leaves as garnish. Serve immediately.

Additional

Hamachi, or Yellowtail, is a popular fish in Japanese cuisine, known for its rich, buttery flavor. The wasabi peas provide a subtle heat, while the fresh tomatoes and cucumber give a satisfying, crunchy texture to this dish. Black sesame seeds not only add a delicious nutty flavor, but also provide a dramatic touch to the presentation. Fun twist: try tossing in some ripe avocado chunks for added creaminess and nutritional benefits. Kids will enjoy helping to arrange the ingredients onto the plate, making creation of this dish a fun family affair.