Tuna and Ham Rolls with Tomato Pepper Relish

As we roll into the holiday season (Can you believe it?  Didn’t we just put those decorations away?), I am always on the lookout for anything that is new, different and most importantly, easy.  While I like a good cheese ball as much as the next girl, sometimes I like to shake things up a little bit.  This quick and festive appetizer does just that.  Now fair warning…it does feature raw tuna, so it’s best served to a crowd of sushi lovers, or alongside something less adventurous (like maybe a nice cheese ball!).  But if you and your guests are up for it, these little rolls are quick and delicious and very handsome.  Here we go!

Get yourself a nice piece of sushi-grade tuna…I’m lucky enough to have it at my local supermarket, but really any fish store worth its salt carries it these days.  You will also need some nice thin serrano ham or prosciutto, some tomatoes, a small red pepper, and some basil.  At this time of year I like to use cherry tomatoes…unlike the full-size off-season tomatoes which are kind of bland and tasteless, cherry tomatoes seem to keep their flavor all year long.  If you can’t find basil in your supermarket a little chopped parsley will work just fine.

Now, slice the tuna into nice even rectangles.  Chop the tomatoes and pepper into little pieces and mix them up with a little olive oil, salt and pepper, and the basil or parsley.  Now for the assembly.  Wrap each tuna slice in a piece of the ham or prosciutto, leaving a little overhang at the top.  Stand the rolls up like little soldiers on whatever serving plate you are planning to use.  Now take your teeniest spoon and ladle just a little of the tomato relish on top.  That’s it – you’re done!  These are best served right away for obvious (raw fish!) reasons, but if you need to hold them in the fridge for an hour or two they will be fine.

So there you go…either give them a try for a new and different Thanksgiving appetizer, or even better, make them for yourself for a light “day after Thanksgiving” supper.   After all, there’s only so much turkey that one person can eat!