Tuna Burgers Niçoise Recipes

TUNA NICOISE BURGERS WITH ROASTED GARLIC-TOMATO AIOLI

Steps:

• Mix together the mayonnaise, Dijon and vinegar. Place tuna in a large bowl. Fold in the mayonnaise mixture, olives, basil, capers and shallots and season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill the mixture well. Divide the mixture into fourths and mold into burgers. Chill again for 30 minutes. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
• Place tomatoes, lemon juice and garlic in the blender and blend until smooth. Add the mayonnaise and blend until just combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

TUNA BURGERS WITH TAPENADE AIOLI

Steps:

• Combine the tuna, Dijon, chipotle, oil, honey and green onion in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Shape the chopped tuna firmly into 8 round uniform patties about 1 1/2 inches thick. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. (The burgers must be very cold to hold their shape when cooking.)
• Grill burgers for 3 minutes on each side for medium doneness.
• For the tapenade aioli:
• Combine olives, capers, garlic, lemon zest and lemon juice in the bowl of a food processor and process until coarsely chopped. Add the mayonnaise and process until smooth, season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
• Serve burgers with ciabatta rolls and aioli. Garnish with watercress.

TUNA BURGERS NIçOISE

Steps:

• Cook potato in microwave until tender, about 5 minutes per side. Peel potato; mash enough to measure 1/4 cup (packed).
• Place 1/4 cup mashed potato in bowl. Mix in 1/4 cup mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper, then 1/4 cup basil, olives, capers and shallots. Add tuna and combine gently. Shape into four 1-inch-thick patties. Mix remaining cup mayonnaise and 1/4 cup basil in small bowl.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Spray both sides of burgers with nonstick spray; grill until just opaque in center, about 4 minutes per side.
• Cut bread pieces lengthwise into thirds; discard centers. Spread basil mayonnaise on bottom halves. Top with burgers, tomatoes, lettuce and bread tops.

GRILLED TUNA SALADE NIçOISE

Steps:

• Make dressing:
• Whisk together vinegar, shallot, mustard, garlic paste, and anchovy paste in a small bowl until combined well, then add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified. Whisk in thyme, basil, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook beans in a 4- to 6-quart pot of boiling salted water , uncovered, until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes, then immediately transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking. Add potatoes to boiling water and simmer, uncovered, until tender, 15 to 20 minutes, then drain in a colander. Halve potatoes while still warm (peel if desired) and toss with 2 tablespoons dressing in a bowl, then cool.
• Prepare grill for cooking. If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill, then light charcoal. Charcoal fire is medium-hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds. If using a gas grill, preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then reduce heat to moderately high.
• Brush tuna with oil and season with salt and pepper, then grill on lightly oiled rack, uncovered, turning over once, until browned on outside but still pink in center, 6 to 8 minutes total. Let tuna stand 3 minutes, then break into large (3-inch) pieces. Transfer tuna to a large platter and drizzle with 2 to 3 tablespoons dressing and top with capers.
• Transfer potatoes to platter with tuna, reserving bowl. Drain beans and pat dry. Toss beans in bowl with 1 tablespoon dressing and salt and pepper to taste, then transfer to platter. Toss lettuce in bowl with 2 tablespoons dressing and salt and pepper to taste, then transfer to platter. Toss tomatoes in bowl with 1 tablespoon dressing and salt and pepper to taste, then transfer to platter.
• Arrange olives and eggs on platter and sprinkle salad with parsley and/or basil. Serve salad with remaining dressing on the side.

TUNA BURGERS

Steps:

• Mix the first 6 ingredients; fold in tuna. Shape into 4 patties. , In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Cook patties until lightly browned, 4-5 minutes on each side. Serve on buns. If desired, top with lettuce and tomato.

SALADE NIçOISE WITH FRESH TUNA

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a saucepan, cover with cool water and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Cover, reduce the heat to low and boil gently for 25 to 35 minutes, until the potatoes are tender but still firm when pierced with a fork. Drain off the water and set the potatoes aside until cool enough to slice.
• Meanwhile, prepare the dressing. In a large bowl, mix together the mustard, garlic, vinegar, olive oil, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Whisk until it comes together.
• Peel the potatoes, if desired, and cut into 1/2-inch slices. Toss with the dressing.
• Bring the 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Add the beans, cover and return to a boil. Boil over high heat for 1 to 3 minutes (less for haricot verts and more for larger beans) until just tender but slightly firm to the bite. Drain and run under cold water for a few seconds to stop the cooking and preserve the bright green color. Cut the beans in half.
• Peel the yellow pepper as best you can with a vegetable peeler (much easier to do if the pepper is firm and thick-walled). Then cut the pepper through the pleats, remove and discard the seeds and continue peeling the skin from the pieces. Pile up the peeled pepper wedges and cut them into thin julienne strips (about 1 1/2 cups). Cut the tomatoes in half crosswise, press out the seeds and cut the unpeeled flesh into 1-inch pieces.
• No more than 1 hour before serving, add the beans, yellow pepper, red onions, tomatoes and black olives to the potatoes. Mix well.
• When almost ready to serve, heat 1 large cast-iron or heavy skillet over high heat for about 2 minutes, until very hot. Sprinkle the tuna with the remaining 2 teaspoons of black pepper and 1 teaspoon of salt and then roll in the canola oil. Place the tuna steak in the hot skillet and sauté over high heat for about 2 minutes, turning once, until lightly browned on the outside and cooked until rare on the inside. Cut into 1/2-inch slices.
• To serve, line a large platter with the lettuce leaves. Mound the salade niçoise in the center of the platter and place the sliced tuna and the basil leaves on top. Serve immediately.

TUNA NICOISE

Steps:

• Put the tuna in a mixing bowl and add the oil, thyme, salt and pepper. Turn the steaks to coat well.
• Heat a nonstick skillet large enough to hold the steaks in one layer and add the steaks. Cook about 3 minutes. Turn the pieces and cook 3 minutes on the other side.
• As the tuna cooks, prepare the sauce. Put onions, olives and capers in a mixing bowl and stir in the vinegar and pepper. Beat in the anchovy and oil and stir in the parsley.
• When the steaks have cooked, transfer them to a warm serving dish. Spoon half the sauce over the pieces, smoothing it over all. Serve the remaining sauce on the side.

TUNA NICOISE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Put onions, 1/4 cup oil, vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl; season with pepper. Toss to combine. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Add tuna and its oil to onion mixture. Add lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt; season with pepper. Gently toss to combine.
• Cover bottom halves of rolls with lettuce. Top with olives, eggs, and tuna mixture, dividing evenly. Drizzle each with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Cover with top halves of rolls. Serve with lemon wedges.