Grilled Fennel Dusted Tuna With Tomatoes And Eggplants Food

GRILLED FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Slice a very thin layer from the bottom of each fennel bulb using a vegetable peeler or paring knife, leaving the core in place to help hold bulb intact. Remove fennel stalks, reserving fronds. Slice bulbs vertically into 1/4-inch slices. Brush slices with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with ground black pepper and salt on each side.
• Grill fennel slices until charred, about 5 minutes per side; transfer to serving platter.
• Whisk remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, basil, parsley, lemon juice, lemon zest, freshly ground black pepper, thyme, and reserved fennel fronds together in a bowl. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and drizzle lemon mixture over fennel.

ROSEMARY GRILLED TUNA STEAKS WITH EGGPLANT AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat grill pan to high or preheat grill or charcoal. Coat tuna in balsamic and season with rosemary, salt and pepper. Drizzle fish with oil, coating lightly on both sides, about 2 tablespoons oil, total.
• Preheat a medium nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan in a slow stream. Add garlic, onion and saute 2 or 3 minutes. Dice the zucchini and squash while the onion begins to soften. Add the zucchini and squash to the pan and turn to coat and combine with garlic and onion.
• Slice eggplant into strips and dice, then add to the pan. Turn to combine all of the vegetables. Add thyme, salt and pepper to season the mixture. Cook over medium high heat, stirring frequently, 10 minutes, until vegetables are just fork tender.
• Grill tuna 2 to 3 minutes on each side for rare, up to 6 minutes on each side for well done.
• When tuna is done and vegetables are fork tender, stir chopped tomatoes into eggplant and zucchini mixture and remove vegetables from heat.
• Serve wedges of vegetable antipasto, above recipe, along side tuna steaks topped with vegetable salsa. Extra antipasto slices and vegetables should be passed at the table.
• A nice Sicilian rose, chilled, makes a fine beverage companion.
• 1 loaf crusty bread, 9 to 12 inches in length
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, drained, chopped -- 1/2 a small jar
• 1/4 cup black pitted calamata or oil cured olives, your preference, chopped
• 1/2 cup prepared pesto sauce
• 1/4 pound deli sliced provolone
• 1 jar, 16 to 18 roasted red peppers, drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts in water, drained
• 1 cup giardiniera, pickled vegetables (hot pickled peppers, cauliflower, carrots available on the Italian foods aisle of market or in bulk bins near deli section with bulk olives)
• Coarse salt and black pepper
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
• Cut the top off a loaf of crusty bread. Hollow out the inside of the bread.
• Mix parsley, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, chopped olives and store bought or homemade pesto sauce. Spread the mixture evenly across the bottom of the hollowed out bread. Layer the cheese into the loaf. Layer the roasted red peppers on top of the cheese. Coarsely chop the drained artichoke hearts and add them in a layer over the red peppers. Sprinkle in the chopped hot pickled vegetables and drizzle some extra-virgin olive oil on top. Replace the top, cut the stuffed loaf into pieces and serve.
• Yield: 4 servings
• Prep Time: 10 to 15 minutes
• Cook Time: none
• Ease of Preparation: easy

EGGPLANT, TOMATO AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Arrange eggplants spoke-fashion, stems toward the center, around the inside rim of a 2-quart souffle dish. Place tomatoes in center. Scatter fennel on top of eggplant. Tuck garlic, basil, and thyme between vegetables. Pour oil, water, salt, and pepper over all. Cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap. Cook in microwave oven at 100 percent for 15 minutes.
• Remove from oven. Uncover and let stand for 3 minutes before serving.

FENNEL CRUSTED TUNA

Steps:

• Place toasted seeds, white pepper and salt in spice grinder. Grind to the size of coarse ground pepper. Brush outside of tuna with olive oil. Crust tuna loin with ground spice mixture. Sear tuna in a non-stick pan, using olive oil sparingly, approximately 45 to 60 seconds on all sides. Should be golden brown on the outside and pink in the center. Slice into 1 1/2 to 2-inch pieces and serve with papaya salad. Can be stored in the refrigerator tightly wrapped 3 to 4 hours before serving.

TUNA TONNATO WITH EGGPLANT SALAD

Steps:

• Blend 1/4 cup tuna, anchovy, mayonnaise, oil, capers, and lemon juice in a blender until smooth to make tonnato sauce.
• Pulse eggplant, garlic, parsley, zest, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a food processor until combined but not smooth.
• Toss tomatoes with mint, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Divide eggplant mixture among jars and layer remaining tuna (broken up into large chunks), tonnato sauce, croutons, and tomatoes (including juices) on top. Drizzle with olive oil.