Pecan Crusted Tuna With Lemon Butter Recipes

PECAN-CRUST TUNA STEAKS

Steps:

• Lightly beat egg on a plate. On another plate, combine pecans, ginger and cayenne pepper. Salt and pepper to taste. Dip tuna steaks in egg, then in pecan mixture. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook tuna for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Drizzle with lemon juice to taste. Serve with garlic rapini and roasted potatoes.

PECAN CRUSTED CHICKEN BREAST WITH CHILI CUMIN BUTTER

Steps:

• For the breading process: Three separate containers (preferably flat and wide baking dishes or gratin dishes) will be needed; one for the flour, one for wet ingredients and one for the breading ingredients.
• Place the flour into its chosen dish. Whisk the eggs together with the milk and 2 tablespoons oil. Combine the bread crumbs, pecans, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese until uniformly mixed.
• Using a meat tenderizer or other flat object to pound the chicken breasts to a flat and uniformly 1/4-inch thick cutlet. Dip the cutlets, one at a time into the flour first, next the egg mixture and finally the dry breading mix. Try to keep one hand dry and work one hand wet or use tongs to transfer the chicken from one dish to another. When all of the chicken has been coated, place on a dish and refrigerate until ready to cook. This may be done in advance.
• Make the flavored butter by placing the butter, chili paste, cumin seed, parsley, cilantro, lime juice and ground black pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to combine well and remove. Lay a piece of waxed paper 12 by 16 inches out flat and scrape the flavored butter onto the waxed paper, at about 1/3 the length up, into a sausage shape. Roll the edge of the paper over the butter and enclose the butter to form a tube-shape. Roll the remaining paper up as you would a cigar and place this log of butter into the freezer for at least 3 hours until it is brick hard. This butter may be made well in advance and keeps, frozen, for up to 1 month.
• To cook the chicken, heat a large saute pan over medium heat, with the 1/4 cup of oil until hot. Add the chicken to the oil, cooking in batches to avoid over crowding the pan, and cook until golden brown about 6 minutes. Turn the chicken over and cook the second side for an additional 6 minutes until the center is cooked and the juices run clear. Transfer to a platter and keep warm.
• Remove the butter from the freezer, unwrap, and cut into 1/4-inch thick round slices. After all the chicken has cooked, place 1 or 2 slices of butter on each piece of chicken, allowing the heat from the chicken to melt the butter into the chicken coating. Serve with lemon-steamed asparagus and herb scented rice.

PECAN CRUSTED TUNA WITH LEMON BUTTER

Steps:

• Melt butter in a small saucepan until slightly browned. Add parsley and lemon juice.
• Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper. In cast iron skillet, heat 1 tbsp butter until hot. Sear fish 3 minutes on each side--you can cook longer if you like your fish well done. Spoon 1/4 cup of pecan mixture over the top of the fish. Place in oven set on broil 5 1/2" from the heat. Leave oven door partially open. Broil until slightly browned. Transfer to a plate and drizzle with the lemon butter.
• If you don't have cast iron skillets, use your regular nonstick pan to cook the fish. Use a baking sheet and either coat it with nonstick spray or pour the drippings from the pan on it and then place the fish on that to broil.

PECAN CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare chicken breasts into cutlets, cutting into thirds and gently pounding to an even thickness of 1/2 inch (easier and cleaner if done between two layers of plastic wrap).
• Blend egg whites, cornstarch, and lemon juice with a fork in a wide, shallow dish; set aside.
• Combine bread crumbs, parsley, salt, pepper, zest, pecans, and seasonings in another wide shallow dish.
• Crust chicken breasts by dipping both sides of prepared chicken into egg white mixture. Then applying crumbs to both sides, patting them on as much as possible. Transfer to a cookie rack to air-dry on both sides for 20-30 minutes. (This will set crust so it will stay on chicken and crisp up nicely).
• Sauté chicken in oil in a large, nonstick, ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp on bottom. Turn carefully with a spatula and transfer the skillet to the oven to finish cooking. This should take about 8 more minutes. Don't overcook, you don't want it to dry out.

GRILLED TUNA STEAKS WITH LEMON-PEPPER BUTTER

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mash together the butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, the 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and the garlic powder. Set aside (or chill if not using immediately).
• Prepare the grill for medium-high direct heat and lightly oil the grate (or preheat a broiler). Brush oil on both sides of tuna steaks. Season the tuno on both sides with salt and additional pepper. Grill or broil for 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium rare, turning once.
• Transfer tuna steaks to a serving platter; top with the butter mixture.