Description
Ina Garten’s classic tuna salad combines fresh ingredients with creamy texture. Seafood enthusiasts will savor this simple yet elegant dish that brings Mediterranean flavors to home kitchens.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) very fresh tuna steak, cut 1-inch thick
- 2 ½ tsp kosher salt, plus extra for sprinkling
- 4 tbsps (60 ml) olive oil, plus extra for brushing
- 6 tbsps (90 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice (3 limes)
- 2 limes, zest grated
- 1 to 2 ripe Hass avocados, medium diced
- ¼ cup (40 g) minced scallions, white and green parts (2 scallions)
- ¼ cup (40 g) red onion, small diced
- ½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper, plus extra for sprinkling
- 1 tsp wasabi powder
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 10 dashes hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco)
Instructions
- Searing: Drizzle tuna steaks with extra virgin olive oil, season with kosher salt and black pepper. Sear in a scorching skillet for 60 seconds per side, achieving a golden crust while preserving a rare interior. Transfer to a serving platter.
- Vinaigrette Preparation: Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, cracked black pepper, sea salt, wasabi paste, lime zest, lime juice, soy sauce, and hot sauce in a mixing bowl until smoothly blended.
- Assembling: Cube the seared tuna with a sharp knife, transferring pieces to a large mixing bowl. Add finely diced red onion and sliced scallions. Delicately fold the vibrant vinaigrette into the tuna mixture, ensuring gentle coating and even flavor distribution without fragmenting the fish. Toss with precision to create a harmonious, zesty seafood dish.
Notes
- Searing Technique: Cook tuna steaks quickly over high heat to achieve a golden-brown crust while keeping the center rare, which preserves the fish’s delicate texture and rich flavor.
- Vinaigrette Balance: Whisk ingredients thoroughly to create a harmonious blend of tangy, spicy, and umami flavors that complement the tuna’s natural taste.
- Cutting Precision: Use a sharp knife to chop tuna into uniform bite-sized cubes, preventing the delicate fish from becoming mushy or falling apart during mixing.
- Gentle Mixing: Fold vinaigrette carefully into the tuna to ensure even coating without breaking the fish, maintaining its structural integrity and preventing over-mixing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg