Crudo Recipe Recipe
Crudo is easy to make at home and one of those appetizers that will WOW your guests. Think of crudo like Italian-style sashimi- raw fish drizzled with olive oil, flakey sea salt, citrus, and herbs. We'll show you the basic recipe to use as a jumping-off point for your own creations. There are many ways to prepare crudo!
How to Make the Best Crudo Recipe
Crudo is a stunning Italian-style appetizer that brings restaurant-quality elegance to your home kitchen. This raw fish dish is deceptively simple to prepare, requiring just fresh fish, quality olive oil, citrus, and a few accent flavors. The key to exceptional crudo lies in sourcing the finest wild-caught fish and slicing it paper-thin to showcase its delicate texture and subtle flavors. Whether you choose hamachi, ahi tuna, sea bass, or tender scallops, each variation offers its own unique character and taste experience.
What makes crudo so special is its versatility and the creative freedom it offers. The basic dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper provides the perfect canvas for your personal touches. Add heat with fresh chili flakes or sliced serrano peppers, brightness with fresh herbs like basil or cilantro, and texture with crunchy elements like radish or cucumber. The beauty of crudo is that there’s no single “right” way to prepare it—each creation can be tailored to your preferences and the quality of ingredients available to you.
This appetizer is perfect for impressing guests at dinner parties or special occasions. The preparation is quick and straightforward, yet the presentation feels sophisticated and refined. Serve it chilled and watch as your guests marvel at the simplicity and elegance on their plates. Once you master the basic technique, you’ll find yourself creating countless variations, making crudo a go-to recipe whenever you want to elevate your entertaining game.
Crudo Recipe
Crudo is easy to make at home and one of those appetizers that will WOW your guests. Think of crudo like Italian-style sashimi- raw fish drizzled with olive oil, flakey sea salt, citrus, and herbs. We'll show you the basic recipe to use as a jumping-off point for your own creations. There are many ways to prepare crudo!
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
Optional Add-ins
Instructions
Preparation
- Freeze fish for 20-30 minutes to make it easier to slice.
- Make the Crudo Dressing. Zest the lemon and set zest aside. Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a bowl. Set this aside.
- Slice the fish into very thin slices.
Assembly and Serving
- Spoon half of the whisked crudo dressing on a plate, covering the area where you plan to put the fish. Arrange the fish- either in a row, circle, scattered, or however you like.
- Tuck in veggies, herbs, chilies and whatever additions you want to use, then spoon the remaining crudo dressing over top of the fish. Finish with the zest and chili flakes.
- Refrigerate until serving. Best served cold!
- Leftovers are good for one day.
