How to Prepare a Tomato to Capture the Texture, Taste and Appearance of Sushi Grade Tuna

Concerned about the environment and the ever decreasing number of fish in the ocean, Chef James Corwell CMC came up with an ingenious alternative vegan recipe, which uses a sous-vide method to prepare tomatoes in a way that captures texture, taste and appearance of sushi grade tuna.

Overfishing is destroying our oceans, and if we want to keep tuna from going extinct, we have to reduce the number we catch. Tomato Sushi is a sustainable, plant-based alternative to vulnerable tuna, with an authentic look and a great taste. …Yes, Tomato Sushi is made of tomatoes, but the texture and flavor of the tomato are transformed through sous vide cooking. Tomato Sushi was designed to be a delicious alternative to ahi tuna with a savory, meaty taste. It’s still a tomato, but its appearance and texture are almost indistinguishable from raw tuna. Tomatoes contain high levels of naturally-occurring glutamic acids, which are responsible for the savory flavor of meaty foods. Chef James Corwell’s proprietary preparation method combines tomatoes with simple, natural ingredients to enhance the natural savory quality of the tomato, making Tomato Sushi a fish-like experience.

Tomato Sushi Roll

Tomato Sushi

Tomato Sushi

Tomato Sushi

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.