Citrus Ginger Crusted Tuna Loin Served With Fufu Chayote Slaw And Smoked Tomato Vinaigrette Recipes

STOVETOP FUFU

Steps:

• Combine the cocoyam fufu flour and 1 cup cold water in a small pot (see Cook's Note). With a sturdy wooden spoon, stir until the mixture is combined and has a silky-smooth texture without any lumps. Place the pot over medium heat and cook, stirring continuously with the wooden spoon, until the mixture starts to solidify and thicken, 1 to 2 minutes. Once it thickens, use the spoon to knead the fufu in the pot until it starts to pull away from the sides of the pot and becomes one mass, about 2 minutes
• Add 1/3 cup water to the fufu, cover with a lid or aluminum foil and bring the water to a boil. Remove the lid and use the wooden spoon to continuously knead the fufu in the pot until the water cooks off. Continue to knead for 1 minute more. Repeat the process of adding water and kneading 2 more times.
• To test for doneness, dip the wooden spoon in water and gently touch it to the fufu. The fufu should have a glossy appearance and should not stick to the spoon. If it is still sticky, make another addition of water and knead it until the water is absorbed. Then test the fufu with a wet spoon again.
• Line a medium plate with plastic wrap and sprinkle it with cold water. Dip the wooden spoon in water, then use it to scoop the fufu onto the plastic wrap. Mold the fufu into a ball by twisting the 4 ends of the plastic wrap together clockwise, then untwist the ends counterclockwise to release the fufu. Transfer the fufu to a small bowl and serve with the soup or stew of your choice.

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.

COLD SOBA NOODLE TUNA LOIN

Steps:

• In a medium size bowl toss soba noodles with 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar and 1 tablespoon sesame oil, set aside.
• Wash and rinse then drain the spinach. Heat a saute pan and add spinach. Toss for about one minute, until leaves are just wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange on a plate.
• Heat another saute pan. Slice the tuna loin into two triangles. Toss in the marasala tikka, covering all sides with a thin layer. Place both pieces of tuna in the hot pan and sear for no more than 30 seconds on each side (for rare tuna). Remove from the pan.
• Slice the tuna into 1/4-inch slices. Top the plated spinach with noodles and arrange the tuna on top
• Garnish: whole chives.

AHI TUNA WITH CURRIED SUMMER SQUASH, CHAYOTE SLAW, AND COCONUT CREAM

Steps:

• Curried Squash: Place sliced squash, onion, and garlic into a saucepan and sweat with grapeseed oil. Stir in curry powder, add lime leaves, coconut milk, and stock. Simmer for 5 to 8 minutes. Remove lime leaves and blend. Finish by seasoning with ginger juice, salt, and ground cumin. Chill.
• Chayote Slaw: Toss all ingredients together and season with salt.
• Ahi Poke: Toss together in a bowl. Chill.
• Coconut Cream: Reduce cream. Add milk and reduce. Add toasted coconut. Chill.
• Ahi Tuna: Char the tuna loin in a wok, remove from a pan, and let rest. Place poke, charred tuna (sliced) and slaw in a bowl. Pour in squash puree and garnish with coconut cream and basil.

FUFU

Steps:

• Cut the ends off the plantains and discard. Slice each plantain into 2-inch chunks and score the skins with a knife along one edge. (Do not remove the peel.) Combine the plantains with the chicken stock in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then lower heat, cover and simmer until tender.
• Cut the pork into approximately 1-inch cubes. Season with salt, and place in a large sauce pan. Add enough water to just barely cover the pork. Bring to a boil and simmer, uncovered, until all of the water has boiled away and the pork begins to fry in the rendered fat. Continue to cook just until brown but not crispy. (The meat should be tender and stringy.)
• Remove the fully cooked plantains from the broth, reserving the broth. Peel the plantains. Mash the plantains with a little of the broth, just enough to make a soft paste, like mashed potatoes.
• Mash together the plantains, garlic and lemon juice. Mix in the pork and half of the bacon. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish the top with the remaining bacon and green onions and serve hot.

GINGER-CRUSTED ONAGA WITH CORN, MUSHROOMS, AND MISO SESAME VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• To prepare vinaigrette, in a bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the rice wine vinegar, the stock, miso, and sugar. In a blender, combine the remaining 1/4 cup of rice wine vinegar, the egg yolks, peanut butter, ginger, garlic chile, and mustard and puree until smooth. With machine running, slowly add the vegetable oil until incorporated, and then slowly add sesame oil. Stir in the sesame seeds. If the mixture seems to thick, add water until the mixture can be poured. Add the blended mixture to the bowl and stir thoroughly. Refrigerate until needed.
• For the ginger-scallion oil, place the ginger and scallions in a deep mixing bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the peanut oil until just smoking. Slowly pour the hot oil over the ginger and scallion, being very careful as the oil will rise up the sides of the bowl. Add the sesame oil. Season with salt. Keep refrigerated.
• For the chile pepper water, in a blender combine the 1/3 cup of water, garlic, chiles, vinegar, ginger, and salt and puree until smooth. In a saucepan, bring the 1 1/4 cups water to a boil. Add the pureed mixture and return to a boil. Remove from the heat. When cool, transfer to an airtight container. Keep refrigerated.
• For the basil oil: In a saucepan of boiling salted water, blanch the spinach for 5 seconds. Drain and transfer to an ice bath to cool. Drain again and transfer to a blender. Add the basil, lemon juice, chile pepper water, garlic and oil. Season with salt, place in a blender, and puree; do not over blend as the oil will lose its color. Strain through a very fine sieve or strainer so that the oil is clear and bright green. Store in a glass container in a cool, dark place.
• For the slivered scallions, using the back part of a large, sharp knife flatten the green parts of the scallions. Cut very finely on a diagonal so that the slivers are about 1 inch long.
• For the fish, in a saute pan over high heat, heat the peanut oil until hot. Season the onaga with salt and pepper. When the oil is almost smoking, sear the onaga for about 45 seconds on each side, or until brown. When cool, top the onaga with the ginger-scallion oil (including the solids it contains) and dust on 1 side with the panko. Transfer the onaga to a oven-proof skillet or roasting pan. In a preheated 350 degree oven, bake for 6 minutes, or until tender and cooked through. Meanwhile, in a saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the mushrooms and saute for 3 to 4 minutes, or until they soften and begin to brown. Add the corn and saute for 2 minutes longer, or until the corn is slightly tender. To serve, divide the Sauteed vegetables among individual plates. Pour 1/2 cup of the vinaigrette around the vegetables and drizzle the basil oil over the vinaigrette. Place the onaga on the vegetables and top with the scallions. Sprinkle the sesame seeds around the plate.