This dinner is both light and healthy while bringing home the flavors! The Seared Ahi Tuna is, you guessed it, from Alan’s in Guaynabo and is fresh and melt in your mouth amazing. Even to sear it made me a little hesitant because just raw in all its glory is amazing but I will accept it seared as well to show you the different culinary ways you can treat this magnificent Grade A sushi fish. After we marinate and cover it in sesame seeds we will sear it and slice it. We then place it on a bed of puree of butternut squash, cauliflower and ginger and serve it alongside of Asian style green beans. This dish is a showstopper and not only is it a party in your mouth, but it is also eye candy!
Seared Sesame Ahi Tuna on a butternut puree with Asian green beans
This Ahi Tuna is deliciously seared for 1 ½ minutes per side on super high heat to get that sear but not cooking through this makes for a melt in your mouth adventure. You want this to be rare. The marinade makes it even more tender and the sesame seeds give it an amazing texture because you want a crunch to go with that experience. The butternut squash, cauliflower, ginger and garlic puree give this Ahi a tasty bed to lie on. This puree is not only a spectacular color for an eye popping show piece to lay your Ahi Tuna on, but the umami experience this journey will take you on will be unforgettable. The entire dish is accompanied by the Asian style green beans that are sautéed in sesame oil, ponzu, ginger and garlic and topped with shredded carrots, shredded purple cabbage and green onions then finally topped with sesame seeds. These green beans are crisp to the taste and the Asian spin we dress and sauté it in will give you another level of experience. It's healthy but by tasting it you'd never guess that it was because it never ever lacks in flavor. Enjoy!
Ingredients
Ingredients: For Seared Ahi Tuna
- 1 ½ lbs. Ahi Tuna (Sushi grade A)
- ¼ cup of Ponzu sauce
- 2 Tablespoons of rice wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Honey
- 2 Tablespoons of Sesame oil
Ingredients: Puree
- 2 ½ Cups Cauliflower (florets)
- 1 ½ Cups of Butternut Squash (1 inch cubes)
- 1 Clove of Garlic (sliced)
- ½ Teaspoon of Ginger (minced)
- 1 Tablespoon Light Olive oil
- ¾ Teaspoon of Garlic Salt
- ¾ Teaspoon Cracked Pepper
Ingredients: Asian Sesame Green Beans
- 8 ounces of Green Beans
- ½ Teaspoon Sesame oil
- ½ Teaspoon Light Olive Oil
- 1 Teaspoon of Garlic (minced)
- ½ Teaspoon Ginger (minced)
- 1 Tablespoon of Ponzu
- 1 Teaspoon Water
- ¼ Cup Carrots (shredded)
- ¼ Cup Purple Cabbage (thinly sliced)
- 3 Tablespoon of Green Onions (diagonally sliced)
- ½ Teaspoon both White and Black Sesame Seeds
Instructions
- Start off with your Tuna ingredients
- Gather a medium bowl and place a gallon size Ziploc and place inside of the bowl.
- Place your Ahi Tuna in the bag.
- In a measuring cup place your Ponzu, rice wine vinegar, honey and sesame oil.
- Combine well and pour over your Tuna in your bag.
- Remove all the air in the bag so that all the marinade touches the tuna surface.
- Marinade for 15 minutes. While waiting, let's get our puree going and gather our ingredients!
- Fill a small quart size pot ½ way with water.
- Place your cauliflower, butternut squash, garlic and ginger in a pot and then cover.
- Boil until fork tender then drain all the water out.
- Add to a blender with olive oil, garlic salt and pepper.
- Blend until velvety smooth.
- Keep in blender with lid on to keep warm
- Gather your Asian green bean ingredients
- In a small skillet place sesame oil and olive oil on medium heat, warm the oil. You do not want it too hot.
- Add garlic and ginger and saute for 30 seconds.
- Add green beans and saute for another minute.
- Add your Ponzu and water to the pan and stir, cover and cook for 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Grab a large bowl and place your green beans into this bowl.
- Place your purple cabbage, shredded carrots and green onions in the same bowl and combine.
- Now sprinkle the sesame seeds on top and set aside.
- By now your Ahi tuna should be marinated. Place a large skillet on high heat on your stove top.
- Fill a plate with sesame seeds.
- Remove your Ahi steaks out of the marinade and dip your steaks in sesame seeds pressing to adhere your sesame seeds to your steaks.
- Place a drizzle of light olive oil and sesame oil in the skillet.
- Place your sesame crusted ahi steaks in the skillet for exactly 1 ½ minutes on each side.
- Immediately remove onto a cutting board. Thinly slice your tuna.
- Take your puree out of the blender and put in a bowl
- Gather all of our ingredients and let's plate our dish!
- On a plate use a large spoonful of the puree and make a large enough portion to carefully place your tuna on.
- Now place your Tuna on the puree.
- On the side of your Puree place you Green beans. Enjoy!
