Ingredients

• 1 pound sashimi grade Ahi tuna, finely diced
• 1/4 cup sake and sesame marinade, recipe follows
• 1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted lightly
• 1/4 teaspoon black sesame seeds
• 1 avocado
• 1/2 cup diced pineapple
• 1/4 cup sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped shallot
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh chopped ginger
• 1 cup sake (rice wine)
• 1/2 cup rice vinegar, unseasoned
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, or to taste
• Cornstarch slurry (3 tablespoons cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water, blended), to thicken

Instructions

1. Place tuna, marinade and sesame seeds in mixing bowl. Stir and let marinate for 5 minutes. While marinating, assemble "tower" base with avocado and pineapple. Top with marinated tuna and pack tightly.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat sesame oil until smoking. Add the garlic, shallot, and ginger. Saute until garlic begins to change color. Deglaze pan with sake. Bring to a simmer and let reduce by half. Add vinegar, soy, and sugar. Return to a boil, blend and then strain into clean saucepan. Whisk in slurry and bring to a boil to thicken. Remove from heat. Chill before using.