Herb Seared Tuna With Caponata And Warm Lemon Creme Fraiche Food

CAPONATA AND HERB POLENTA

Steps:

• Place the cutting board near the stovetop. Preheat a big, deep pot over medium heat. Add oil, garlic, and crushed pepper. As you chop vegetables (peppers, onion, and celery), add them to the pot. Once vegetables are in there, increase heat a bit.
• Stir in olives, capers, and raisins. Salt the diced eggplant and stir into the pot. Add tomatoes, diced and crushed, to the pot and stir caponata well to combine. Cover pot and cook caponata 15 to 20 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Stir in parsley and remove pan from heat.
• Polenta: Bring 3 cups chicken broth to a boil. Add polenta and stir constantly until the cornmeal masses together. Stir in herbs, butter, cheese, salt, and pepper.
• Spread polenta out over a serving platter. Make a shallow well from the center out and fill with half of the prepared caponata. This stands as a complete dinner on its own, so rich with vitamins and fresh vegetables. Refrigerate the remaining caponata for a later use.
• If you prepare a salad, keep it simple. Dress mixed greens with oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Caponata can also be used as a bruschetta topping.

TUNA STEAKS WITH GARLIC-HERB CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Melt butter in the hot skillet. Season tuna steaks with salt and pepper and place in the skillet. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove to a serving plate and keep warm.
• Add half-and-half and spreadable cheese to the same skillet and stir until incorporated. Add lemon juice. Set 2 tablespoons of the sauce aside. Add spinach to the remaining sauce in the skillet and cook until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Divide spinach between 2 plates and place tuna steaks on top. Serve reserved sauce over the steaks.

PAN SEARED TUNA WITH CITRUS-HERB VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Stir together 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon parsley, and red pepper flakes. Toss tuna with marinade, and set aside to marinate for 30 minutes.
• Pour vinegar, orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, and soy sauce into the bowl of a blender. Add shallot, 1 tablespoon parsley, thyme, dill, honey, Dijon mustard, jalapeno, and ginger. Blend on high until smooth, then add 3/4 cups olive oil in a slow, steady stream with the blender running. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Fill another large container with half ice, half cold water, and set aside. Add the haricots verts to the boiling water, and cook until just tender, 35 to 40 seconds. Remove from the water, and immediately plunge into the ice water to cool. Next, blanch the carrots until just tender, about 1 1/2 minutes; chill in ice water until cold.
• When the vegetables are cold, remove from the ice water and pat dry. Place into a large bowl, and toss with the halved tomatoes, olives, onion, and chervil; set aside.
• Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet over high heat until very hot. Remove tuna steaks from marinade, and wipe off excess marinade. Season the tuna to taste with salt and pepper, then sear in hot skillet to desired doneness, about 1 minute per side for rare.
• To assemble, toss the vegetable salad with enough dressing to lightly coat. Divide the salad among 4 plates, and place a seared tuna steak on top of each. Drizzle with additional dressing to serve.

TUNA PASTA WITH LEMON CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook your pasta according to directions, drain and reserve 2 tablespoons of the cooking water.
• Return the pasta and cooking water to the saucepan and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add the flour.
• Cook, stirring for 30 seconds, then remmove from the heat.
• Slowly add the lemon juice, stirring and bring to the boil over medium heat.
• Allow to cool a little, then add the cream.
• Add the cream mixture, tuna, olives, capers, parsley, 3/4 of the lemon rind, and salt and pepper to the pasta.
• Toss over a low heat until well combined.
• Spoon into serving bowls and sprinkle with the remaining lemon rind.

FRESH TUNA STEAKS WITH LEMON

Steps:

• Wash parsley and pat dry with paper towels.
• Mince parsley with peeled garlic.
• Wash and dry whole lemon, grate half the zest.
• Peel rest of rind and discard it.
• Slice lemon thinly.
• Squeeze lemon half; add juice, a pinch of salt and pepper, to a bowl; stir until seasonings have dissolved.
• Add wine, oil, parsley and garlic mixture, and grated lemon peel.
• Beat with fork until well blended.
• Wash and dry tuna.
• Arrange in saute or large omelet pan.
• Pour sauce over tuna and cover with lemon slices.
• Cook fish over high heat for 7-8 minutes,
• Remove lemon slices and turn fish over.
• Cook for another 2 minutes.
• Slice remaing lemon.
• Arrange tuna on serving plate.
• Drizzle with cooking juices.
• Decorate with uncooked lemon slices and sprigs of parsley.
• Serve hot or at room temperature.