KIRIBATI: Coconut Tuna Ceviche with Taro Chips (Ika Mata)

Given that Kiribati is the first country to usher in the new year and that this is a simple and light post-holiday meal today's dinner seems appropriate across the board. My family loves any and every type sushi, poke, or raw fish preparation, so gobbled this down.

Coconut Tuna Ceviche with Taro Chips (Ika Mata)

¾ lb fresh yellowtail or ahi tuna

2 tablespoons minced red onion

4 limes

¼ medium red bell pepper

1 small Persian cucumber

1 small tomato, such as a Roma

¼ carrot

½ cup coconut cream

Fried taro chips, store-bought or fresh

1. Cut the tuna into ½-inch pieces. Place it in a small bowl, with the minced onion, and squeeze enough lime juice to cover. Marinate for at least 30 minutes, up to 3 hours,

2. Seed and dice the red pepper, cucumber, and tomato. Peel and chop the carrot finely. Place into a medium mixing bowl.

3. Drain the lime juice from the tuna and onion mixture and add to the chopped vegetables. Pour in the cream, and stir until evenly combined.

4. Serve alongside taro chips.

#kiribati #ceviche #tuna #newyear

FUN FACTS:

• Kiribati is the only country in all four hemispheres (East, North, West, and South)!

• Kiribati is the country furthest east from Greenwich Mean Time, which means it is the first country to experience each new day and the first to ring in today: the new year!

• Kiribati once straddled the International Date Line, meaning that the Gilbert Islands were technically a full day ahead of its eastern neighbors, the Phoenix and Line Islands. The country’s government opted to move the line on December 31, 1994 about 1,000 kilometers eastward to ensure the entire country shared the same date. This also was the creation of the UTC+13:00 and UTC+14:00 time zones.