Emulsifier Free Beef Carpaccio with Arugula and Capers
Raw beef dishes can feel intimidating, but this classic Italian preparation is genuinely one of the most elegant and effortless things you can put on a table. The tenderloin is briefly frozen to make slicing and pounding a breeze, then fanned out into delicate, nearly translucent sheets that practically melt on the tongue. A bright dressing of extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and a whisper of ginger ties everything together, while peppery arugula, briny capers, and fresh herbs pile on top for contrast and color. What makes this dish so clean from an ingredient standpoint is how naturally straightforward it is — every component is a whole, recognizable food with no additives hiding in the background. No store-bought dressings, no jarred sauces, no processed shortcuts that might sneak in unwanted emulsifying agents. The dressing comes together with a quick whisk, and the capers just need a rinse before they hit the plate. Because the beef is served raw, sourcing a fresh, high-quality tenderloin from a butcher you trust is the one step that really matters. Get that right, and the rest of this dish practically assembles itself into something that looks like it came out of a proper Italian trattoria.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the carpaccio
- 8 oz beef tenderloin, trimmed of any sinew
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
For serving
- 2 cups baby arugula
- 2 tbsp capers, drained and rinsed
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, thinly sliced (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Wrap the beef tenderloin tightly in plastic wrap and place it in the freezer for 25–30 minutes, until the exterior is firm to the touch but not frozen solid — this makes slicing and pounding much easier.
- 2
Remove the beef from the freezer and unwrap it. Using a very sharp knife, slice the tenderloin crosswise into rounds as thin as possible, about 1/8 inch thick.
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