Sicilian Inspired Tuna With Spicy Couscous Food

SICILIAN TUNA STEAKS IN ONION SAUCE

Steps:

• SAUCE:.
• Saute the onions in olive oil and butter over medium heat in a large skillet.
• Add salt and cook, stirring until they are limp.
• Stir in vinegar and sugar, and cook over a slightly lower heat until the vinegar has evaporated.
• I caution you, the escaping steam will take your breath away so stay well away from the skillet when possible, but do perservere!
• When vinegar has evaporated, add cayenne or tabasco, mix well and remove from heat.
• The sauce should still retain the texture of the onions and yet retain enough moisture to be spoonable.
• Cover and keep warm.
• TUNA:.
• Over medium heat, add olive oil and bay leaves to a skillet large enough to hold tuna steaks in one layer.
• When the oil is warm, not hot, add tuna and salt and pepper to taste.
• Saute 2-3 minutes per side, but this will depend on thickness of steaks and your doneness preference-- we like ours on the rare side.
• Raise heat, add wine, and cover pan a second or two, just until the wine has stopped steaming.
• Uncover skillet, cook 30 seconds longer, then transfer tuna to plates.
• Spoon the onions and sauce over the top of each, and serve.

SICILIAN TUNA

Steps:

• Marinate tuna:
• Combine oil, lemon juice, anchovies, garlic, oregano, and tuna in a large sealable bag and seal bag, pressing out excess air. Let stand at room temperature, turning occasionally, 30 minutes.
• Grill tuna:
• Remove tuna from marinade and shake off any excess. Lightly oil grill pan and heat over medium-high heat until smoking. Grill tuna, turning once, until pale pink in center, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, make sauce:
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add diced celery and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, olives, and capers and cook until sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in basil, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper and remove from heat. Spoon sauce over tuna and sprinkle with celery leaves.

SICILIAN-STYLE TUNA STEAKS (TONNO ALLA GHIOTTA)

Steps:

• 1. In a medium skillet over moderately high heat, warm the oil. Season the tuna with salt and pepper and sauté, turning once, until golden on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes total. Remove the tuna and set aside. Do not clean the pan.
• 2. In the same pan over low heat, sauté the onion, stirring frequently, until just tender, about 1 minute. Add the garlic, capers, olives, raisins, and tomatoes, and continue cooking, stirring, until heated through, about 2 minutes. If the tomatoes don't release much juice, add the fish stock or water to give the sauce some body.
• 3. Return the tuna to the pan and cover it with a tight-fitting lid. Cook over moderate heat until the tuna reaches the desired doneness, 2 to 3 minutes for medium.
• 4. Add the parsley and basil and stir to incorporate, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve the fish with the sauce spooned over the top; garnish with pine nuts.

SPICY TUNA COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Place couscous and seasoning into a heatproof bowl.
• Pour over the water while stirring with a fork.
• Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 5 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed.
• Fluff with a fork to separate the grains.
• Add lemon juice, tuna, shallot, tomato, cucumber, capsicum and mint and stir to combine.
• Serve with the lettuce leaves.