SPRING ZING

Beef tataki with blood orange and puffed wild rice

SERVES 4-6 // PREP TIME 20 MINS // COOK 10 MINS (PLUS COOLING, RESTING)

Tart blood oranges give this traditional Japanese dish a lively, modern twist.

Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
2 tbsp wild rice
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
800 gm wagyu beef fillet, sinew removed, at room temperature
1 tsp finely grated fresh wasabi or horseradish (optional)
Baby lemon balm, to serve

PICKLE

1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tbsp caster sugar
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 large golden shallots, thinly sliced into rings
2 blood oranges, skin removed, segmented, juice reserved
3 baby watermelon radishes, thinly shaved

1 Preheat a lightly greased barbecue plate or heavy-based frying pan to high heat. Drizzle beef all over with oil and season to taste. Sear beef, turning frequently, until charred all over but rare in the middle (5-6 minutes). Rest for 10 minutes, cool, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in freezer for 3 hours or until firm. Slice thinly and allow to come to room temperature.

For puffed rice, half-fill a heavy-based saucepan with vegetable oil and heat to 220°C (a cube of bread will turn golden in 25 seconds when the oil is hot enough).