SBS Food

www.sbs.com.au/food

Dugong tartare

French tartare, usually made with steak, gets an Indigenous twist with a rare ingredient – dugong. A traditional staple for Torres Strait Islanders, dugong meat is an important part of the diet in the culture. With similar flavours, beef is an easy swap for this recipe.

Dugong tartare

Credit: Island Echoes

  • serves

    4

  • prep

    10 minutes

  • difficulty

    Easy

serves

4

people

preparation

10

minutes

difficulty

Easy

level

Stream free On Demand

Thumbnail of Island Echoes With Nornie Bero

Island Echoes With Nornie Bero

series • 
cooking
PG
series • 
cooking
PG

Ingredients

  • 300 g dugong meat (See Note)
  • 2 tbsp capers, roughly chopped
  • 3 quandongs, thinly sliced
  • ½ tsp lemon thyme
  • ½ tsp ground pepperberry
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt, for seasoning
  • 1 eschallot, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp ground bush tomatoes
  • ½ tsp celery salt
  • 1 tbsp mustard
  • Yam chips, to serve

Instructions

  1. Finely chop the dugong meat into small cubes, then set aside. Into a mortar and pestle, combine the capers, quandong, lemon thyme and pepperberry. Crush into a thick paste, then stir through the olive oil and a generous pinch of salt.
  2. Add the dugong to the mortar with the eschallot, bush tomatoes, celery salt and mustard and stir gently to combine. Serve the dugong tartare directly in the mortar with yam chips on the side.
Note:
Dugong is a traditional hunting food source for Torres Strait Islanders, who have special provisions to hunt dugong and turtles in certain areas, and there is also a large sanctuary which is off limits to the traditional hunting practices. Find more information .

Watch how to make this recipe on Episode 8 of .

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.

Stream free On Demand

Thumbnail of Island Echoes With Nornie Bero

Island Echoes With Nornie Bero

series • 
cooking
PG
series • 
cooking
PG

Share

SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only.
Have a story or comment? Contact Us

SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only.
Watch nowOn Demand
Follow SBS Food
Published 17 February 2025 8:12pm
By Nornie Bero
Source: SBS



Share this with family and friends