Asparagus and Tuna Sesame

1. For the asparagus, snap off the woody base of the stems by bending the spears with your hands. Peel the stalks only if thick and tough. Put the spears into a large and shallow saucepan, cover with boiling water, add a little salt and bring back to the boil. Cook the spears for 2 minutes, drain and set aside, keeping warm.

2. For the sauce, grind the sesame seeds in a pestle and mortar, scrape into a bowl and whisk together all the other ingredients. Chop the onion and celery into a very fine dice and add to the sauce bowl. Drain the tuna and put into the sauce mix the sauce, breaking up the tuna with a fork.

3. Cut the asparagus spears in half and mix with the sauce. Serve as a starter or a side dish in a Japanese meal.