Description

Marinated watermelon stands in for sashimi, paired with silky avocado-wasabi cream and a bright soy-ginger drizzle. This vegan appetizer shocks the eye and delights the palate.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Watermelon Sashimi

300 g seedless watermelon, cut into 1 cm thick slices

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp toasted sesame oil

1 tsp freshly grated ginger

1 tsp rice vinegar

Pinch of sea salt

For the Avocado-Wasabi Cream

1 ripe avocado

1 tbsp lime juice

½ tsp wasabi paste, or more to taste

Salt to taste

Splash of cold water, for blending

For the Soy-Ginger Drizzle

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp rice vinegar

1 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp grated ginger

½ tsp maple syrup or honey

To Finish

Pickled ginger (gari)

Black sesame seeds

Microgreens or shiso leaves

Thinly sliced radish (optional)

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Instructions

1. Whisk soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, vinegar, and salt. Lay watermelon slices in a shallow dish and pour marinade over them. Flip once and marinate 30–45 minutes.

2. Blend avocado, lime juice, wasabi, salt, and a splash of water until smooth and pipeable.

3. Whisk soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and maple syrup in a small bowl to create the drizzle.

4. Slice marinated watermelon into sashimi-style rectangles. Arrange on a serving plate with a swirl of avocado-wasabi cream.

5. Drizzle soy-ginger sauce around the watermelon. Finish with black sesame seeds, pickled ginger, microgreens, and radish slices.

Notes

Choose a firm, seedless watermelon so the slices hold their shape.

Extend marination up to 4 hours for deeper umami.

Adjust wasabi gradually to reach your preferred heat level.

Swap rice vinegar with yuzu juice for a brighter citrus note.

Pipe the avocado cream just before serving to keep color vibrant.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: No-cook / Marinated
Cuisine: Vegan Fusion

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 plated portion
Calories: 160
Sugar: 5 g
Sodium: 420 mg
Fat: 12 g
Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 10 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 2 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg