Saturday, November 11, 2006

Christmas Fish Recipe - Pepper-Seared Yellowfin Tuna

Pepper-Seared Yellowfin Tuna

Fresh yellowfin tuna steaks are stuffed with a delectable combination of goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms and basil.

Makes : 4 servings.

Ingredients :
4 (8-ounce) yellowfin tuna steaks
4 ounces goat cheese
1 ounce sun-dried tomatoes, reconstituted and sliced
8 shiitake mushrooms, stems removed
8 large basil leaves
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided use
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions :
1.     Preheat oven to 400°F.
2.     Combine garlic with half the olive oil; set aside.
3.     Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.
4.     Place mushroom caps top-side down and sear until slightly crisp; turn and
        sear briefly. Remove from heat and set aside.
5.     Make a pocket in the tuna steaks by slicing in half horizontally; do not slice
        all the way through.
6.     Stuff each tuna steak in the following order with 1 ounce goat cheese, ½
        ounce sliced sun-dried tomatoes, 2 mushrooms and 2 basil leaves.
7.     Brush inside of top flap with garlic oil.
8.     Season outside of steaks with freshly ground black pepper; set aside.
9.     Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large, oven-proof sauté pan over
        medium-high heat.
10.   Add stuffed tuna steaks to pan and sear until brown.
11.   Carefully turn over each steak and sear on other side.
12.   Place in oven and bake 5 to 10 minutes, or until thoroughly done.

Courtesy : National Fisheries Institute.