Steve Mishos

Yield: 2

Fresh tuna steaks are so fatty and rich that to preserve their flavour they should never be cooked beyond ‘medium rare’ doneness. Braised leeks have a wonderfully creamy texture that complements the fish perfectly.

Ingredients Leeks

• 2 tbsp of butter
• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• 4 x leeks, white bottoms only, roots still attached, halved lengthwise
• 1 cup of red wine (I think I used 2 cups wine)
• 2 cups of vegetable broth (I think I used a cube with 1 cup water)
• Salt and pepper

Salsa

• 2 x very ripe tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tbsp of fresh ginger, grated
• 1/2 cup of fresh mint, chopped
• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 x preserved lemon, minced or the juice and zest of one lemon
• Salt and pepper

Tuna

• 1 tbsp of red peppercorns
• 1 tbsp of green peppercorns
• 1 tbsp of black peppercorns
• Kosher salt
• 2 x 6 oz tuna steaks, 1 inch thick
• 3 tbsp of olive

Directions Leeks

Preheat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil and butter and when it foams, add the leeks, flat side down. Pan roast for a few minutes until the face browns and softens. Add the red wine and chicken broth and season with salt and pepper. Cover with a lid, reduce heat and braise at a slow simmer for 30 minutes, until leeks are very soft and braising liquid has reduced and thickened to a sauce-like consistency. While the leeks braise combine all the salsa ingredients. Crack the peppercorns in an electric spice grinder or using a mortar and pestle. Don’t grind to a powder. Mix on a plate with the salt then press each tuna steak into the mixture, coating both sides well. Preheat a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat, add corn oil and sear tuna steaks for no more than 3 minutes per side. Cook just long enough to form a crust but not long enough to allow the heat to penetrate and cook the center of the fish. Tuna should be rare in the center. Cut into thick slices with a very sharp knife. Place 2 leek halves in each bowl, fan tuna on top of them and spoon the leek broth over the top. Top with a heaping spoonful of the salsa.

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