Tuna Crusted With Aleppo Peppers With Tangerine Green Onion Relish Melted Leeks And Red Wine Pomegranate Reduction Recipes

TUNA AU POIVRE WITH RED WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Season tuna steaks with salt. Sprinkle with garlic, coriander, fennel and black pepper. Drizzle with olive oil. Rub to coat evenly with spices on both sides. Let marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes (or refrigerate for up to 4 hours and bring to room temperature before cooking).
• Make the red wine sauce: Melt butter over medium-high heat and add shallots. Cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add wine and simmer until reduced by half. Add chicken broth and reduce until 1 cup sauce remains, about 10 minutes. Season with salt, set aside and keep warm.
• Set a wide cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat (or use 2 smaller pans). When hot, lay in steaks and sear for 2 minutes, until nicely browned. Flip and cook 1 minute more for rare, 2 minutes for medium rare. Arrange tuna on a platter or individual plates. Spoon wine sauce over each steak.

ROASTED RED PEPPER FILLED WITH TUNA

Steps:

• Roast the pepper directly over a gas burner or under the broiler, turning often until uniformly charred. Remove from the heat, and place in a bowl. Cover tightly, and allow to cool.
• While you're waiting for the pepper to cool, make the tuna filling. Combine the garlic and a generous pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle, and mash to a paste. Add the anchovy, if using, and mash with the garlic. Add the capers, and mash together. In a bowl, break up the tuna with a fork, then stir in the garlic mixture, the lemon juice, olive oil and the yogurt. Add more yogurt or olive oil if the mixture seems dry. Season to taste with pepper (it should not need salt), and stir in the parsley.
• When the pepper is cool enough to handle, peel and discard the blackened skin, rinse briefly and pat dry. Cut away the top, then cut or pull apart the pepper into thirds. Remove seeds and membranes, holding the pepper over a bowl so that you can catch any juice. Lay the pepper pieces on a plate. Season with a little salt and pepper if desired, and fill with the tuna mixture. Serve.

MULTI-SPICED CRUSTED TUNA 'STEAK' WITH BLACK BEAN-SHIRAZ BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the loin in 4 equal, thick 'steaks'. Trim off any sinew. On a plate. Mix together all the spices. Season the tuna steaks with salt then dredge them in the spice mix. In a very hot saute pan coated lightly with oil, sear the tuna until it becomes dark brown then flip, about 3 minutes a side. The tuna will still be rare and slightly warmed. Let rest 3 minutes before slicing in half on the bias.
• For the Black Bean-Shiraz Butter Sauce: In a non-reactive saucepan, add the shallots, black beans, ginger and wine. Bring to a simmer and completely reduce the wine. When wine is gone, add the cream and bring to a simmer. Immediately transfer to a blender and blend at high speed. Add the butter, 1 piece at a time. Season with salt and pepper and check for seasoning. Keep warm in a hot water bath. Plating: On large, round plates, place a mound of potatoes in the center. Top with the tuna and top that with the salad. Place the sauce around the tuna and drizzle with a little vinaigrette.
• Wine Suggestion: Vin d'Alsace, Haag, Pinot Blanc, 1998

MARMITAKO

Steps:

• If using dried peppers, remove the stem and seeds and soak in warm water for 1 hour, or until softened. Drain well, scrape off the flesh and discard skins. If using roasted peppers, remove the charred skin, stems and seeds, and chop. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large casserole. Add the onions and bell peppers and saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute another minute to release the aromas. Cover the casserole tightly, reduce the heat to very low, and cook for 15 minutes.
• Uncover the casserole and stir in the paprika and parsley. Increase the heat, add the brandy and flame it. When the flame dies down, stir in the potatoes, carrots, and leeks, and saute 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and saute 2 more minutes. Pour in the stock and wine, and add the chile pepper, and reserved dried pepper flesh. Season with salt and pepper, increase the heat and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Discard the chile pepper halves. Add the tuna to the soup, adjust the seasonings and simmer 3 to 5 minutes. Cover casserole and let sit 5 minutes.
• To serve, ladle warm soup into individual bowls, and float a piece of toasted bread on the top.