Pepper Crusted Tuna Recipes

PEPPER SEARED TUNA STEAKS

Steps:

• Combine black pepper and sesame seeds in bowl.
• Press tuna steaks into mixture, until coated.
• Heat sesame oil over medium-high heat.
• Add tuna steaks and sear about 1- 1 1/2 minutes each side (I like mine rare in the center, longer if you prefer well-cooked tuna).
• Transfer steaks to tented aluminum foil to keep warm.
• Add a touch more oil to pan, then add soy sauce and sherry.
• Add garlic and most of green onion (reserving some of the tops).
• If too much has boiled off, add a bit of red wine if necessary.
• Reduce heat and simmer until mixture is slightly reduced, scraping up any brown bits, about 1 minute.
• Spoon sauce over tuna steaks, and sprinkle remaining green onion on top.
• Note: if you want to make more of this sauce, it tastes fantastic, and goes great with rices, potatoes, roasted veggies, etc.
• In the photo, I cross-cut Italian bread, drizzled with olive oil and briefly toasted.

PEPPER-CRUSTED TUNA

Steps:

• Season the tuna with salt on both sides, then press the peppercorns into both sides. Heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet until almost smoking. Add the tuna and lower the heat to medium. Sear the tuna until browned on the outside but still rare in the center, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Thinly slice the tuna and fan the slices onto 4 plates. Serve immediately.

SEARED TUNA IN BLACK PEPPER CRUST

Steps:

• Beat the lime juice, marjoram and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil together. Set aside.
• Trim any dark areas from the tuna, then cut it into four equal pieces, trimming them a little if necessary to make four rectangular logs. Press the cracked black pepper over the outside of the pieces of fish.
• Heat all but a teaspoon of the remaining olive oil plus the canola oil in a large, heavy skillet. When the oil is very hot, carefully place the fish in the skillet (to avoid splattering) and sear each piece for barely a minute, then turn and continue to sear the fish pieces briefly on each of the remaining three sides. Remove the fish to a warm plate. The fish should be rare in the middle.
• Wipe out the skillet and add the remaining olive oil. Add the spinach and saute it for a few minutes, until the spinach is barely wilted. Add the beans, season with salt and pepper and continue to saute until the spinach is wilted but is still a bright green and the beans are completely heated through.
• Divide the spinach mixture equally among four dinner plates. Cut the blocks of seared tuna into slices one-half-inch thick and array the slices on top of the spinach. Briefly beat the vinaigrette, then drizzle the vinaigrette around the tuna and the spinach. The plates are now ready to be served.

PEPPERCORN-CRUSTED TUNA

Steps:

• Rub 2 tbsp (25 mL) olive oil onto tuna steaks all over and coat top with peppercorns and salt.
• Heat remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a nonstick skillet over high heat.
• Add tuna peppercorn-side up.
• Fry for 2 minutes, flip and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, depending on thickness of fish.
• Remove tuna from pan and transfer onto serving plates.
• The fish should be rare. If you like it more cooked, fry another 2 minutes.
• Add red wine to skillet over high heat and reduce until 2 tbsp (25 mL) remain.
• Add balsamic vinegar and stock and reduce until 1/2 cup (125 mL) remains.
• Add cream and boil just until sauce begins to thicken.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon sauce around tuna.

TOASTED FENNEL CRUSTED TUNA WITH SAFFRON-RED PEPPER SAUCE AND SPRING VEGETABLE COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Place fennel seeds in a coffee grinder and coarsely grind and place on a large plate. Brush tuna with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Preheat saute pan or grill pan over high heat until smoking. Dredge one side of the tuna in the fennel seeds. Saute, fennel-side down for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown, turn over and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes for rare doneness.
• Heat oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft. Add the red peppers, vinegar, water and saffron and bring to a simmer. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Place in a blender and blend until smooth, season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the couscous and cook until lightly golden brown. Cover with water and 2 tablespoons of salt. Cook until al dente, drain and place into a large bowl. Heat remaining 3 tablespoons of oil in a large saute pan and saute the vegetables until just cooked through. Add the vegetables and oil to the couscous. Whisk together the soy sauce and harissa and pour over the couscous and mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

PEPPER-CRUSTED TUNA WITH TANGERINE BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• Cut tuna into 3 or 4 equal portions.
• Season each piece with sea salt and rub with peppercorn mixture.
• Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet over high heat.
• Once oil is smoking, place tuna portions flat side down, and sear for 1 minute.
• Repeat process on all 3 sides of the tuna loins.
• Remove from pan and place on a cutting to rest, and cool for 4-5 minutes.
• Cut tuna into 3 or 4 equal portions.
• Season each piece with sea salt and rub with peppercorn mixture.
• Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet over high heat.
• Once oil is smoking, place tuna portions flat side down, and sear for 1 minute.
• Repeat process on all 3 sides of the tuna loins.
• Remove from pan and place on a cutting to rest, and cool for 4-5 minutes.
• Cut seared tuna into -inch thick slices and top with tangerine beurre blanc.

PEPPER CRUSTED TUNA STEAK

Steps:

• Mix the basil, thyme and the black pepper together. Season the tuna with the mixture. In a hot saute pan, add the olive oil and sear the tuna until cooked rare or to desired temperature. Remove the tuna. Then add the bok choy with the wasabi, fish stock and the soy sauce to the hot saute. Reduce the stock by a quarter. Remove from heat and ladle the soy wasabi broth into the bowls and place the cooked tuna on the top of top of the bok choy.