Asian Fusion Tapas

This birthday dinner incorporates a key piece of feedback from my star diner: reduce the amount of cooking between courses. This meal is all served cold so can be prepared throughout the day or in advance before dining begins. This means it can also be served as a picnic -- the original intention before mountain weather thought otherwise.

We started with cocktails and edamame, and then served the three dishes tapas style. We finished with cake. The birthday boy's favorite dish is the spicy tuna rice cakes, but this can be made vegetarian by topping with spicy cucumbers, tempura sweet potatoes, or another favorite veggie.

I made 3 cups of sushi rice, which can be made in the morning to let cool before use in the crispy rice and handrolls. Other items for cooking will be tofu (spring rolls) and shiitakes (handrolls). Otherwise, tasks will be chopping veggies, making peanut sauce, and assembly. Leave more time than you think needed for assembly as these are all very hands-on recipes!

Menu:

1. Edamame & cocktails

2. Tapas:

   1. Crispy rice with spicy tuna & lime avocado mash

   2. Tofu peanut spring roll (I skipped rice noodles given how filling the other dishes are)

   3. Skiitake mushroom handroll

3. Nutella bundt cake (subbed 1:1 gluten free flour)