Tuna Crusted With Aleppo Peppers With Tangerine Green Onion Relish Melted Leeks And Red Wine Pomegranate Reduction Recipes

TRUFFLE-STEAMED HALIBUT ON MELTED LEEKS WITH TRUFFLE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Combine the truffle peelings and Madeira in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve, separately reserving the liquid and peelings.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the same saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, 1/4 cup of the chopped carrot, celery, and sachet. Saute for about 4 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Add the reserved Madeira liquid and stir to de-glaze the pan. Continue to cook for about 3 minutes or until the pan is almost dry. Add the rich chicken stock and cook about 4 minutes or until the liquid is reduced by half. Immediately strain through a fine sieve into a medium size, heat-proof bowl. Discard the solids. Set the liquid aside to cool.
• When the liquid is cool, whisk in the vinegar, 1/2 cup of the remaining olive oil, and the truffle oil. Season the truffle vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Remove the green part from the leeks (you may want to reserve this for making stock). Split leeks in half, lengthwise, down to but not through the root ends. Holding the leeks together by the root, rinse thoroughly under cold running water to remove all the grit. Pat dry.
• Place the leeks in a medium saucepan along with the chicken stock, butter, minced parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until the leeks are soft. Add the 1/2 cup of remaining diced carrots and simmer for 3 minutes. Cover and turn off the heat, but leave the pan on the burner to keep the leeks warm until ready to serve.
• While the leeks are cooking, prepare the halibut.
• Lightly season each piece of halibut with salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste. Place 2 truffle slices and 1 tarragon leaf on each side of the halibut. Using a large pastry brush, very lightly coat one side of 6 10-inch by 10-inch squares of plastic wrap with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Securely wrap each piece of fish in an oiled plastic wrap square. Place the halibut in the top half of a steamer over lightly simmering water. Cover and steam for 8 minutes per inch, or until the fish is just firm but slightly underdone in the center. Remove the fish from the steamer.
• Whisk the fines herbs into the reserved truffle vinaigrette.
• Spoon equal portions of the melted leeks into the center of each 6 warm dinner plates. Unwrap the fish and place one piece on top of the leeks. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the fish and around the edge of the plate. Garnish top with crispy leeks and serve.
• Add oil to deep fryer, or a 3-inch deep saute pan. Heat over medium-high until very hot but not smoking, and add the leeks. Quickly fry until the leeks are crisp, about 30 seconds. Remove leeks from oil immediately. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.

MULTI-SPICED CRUSTED TUNA 'STEAK' WITH BLACK BEAN-SHIRAZ BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the loin in 4 equal, thick 'steaks'. Trim off any sinew. On a plate. Mix together all the spices. Season the tuna steaks with salt then dredge them in the spice mix. In a very hot saute pan coated lightly with oil, sear the tuna until it becomes dark brown then flip, about 3 minutes a side. The tuna will still be rare and slightly warmed. Let rest 3 minutes before slicing in half on the bias.
• For the Black Bean-Shiraz Butter Sauce: In a non-reactive saucepan, add the shallots, black beans, ginger and wine. Bring to a simmer and completely reduce the wine. When wine is gone, add the cream and bring to a simmer. Immediately transfer to a blender and blend at high speed. Add the butter, 1 piece at a time. Season with salt and pepper and check for seasoning. Keep warm in a hot water bath. Plating: On large, round plates, place a mound of potatoes in the center. Top with the tuna and top that with the salad. Place the sauce around the tuna and drizzle with a little vinaigrette.
• Wine Suggestion: Vin d'Alsace, Haag, Pinot Blanc, 1998

MARMITAKO

Steps:

• If using dried peppers, remove the stem and seeds and soak in warm water for 1 hour, or until softened. Drain well, scrape off the flesh and discard skins. If using roasted peppers, remove the charred skin, stems and seeds, and chop. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large casserole. Add the onions and bell peppers and saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute another minute to release the aromas. Cover the casserole tightly, reduce the heat to very low, and cook for 15 minutes.
• Uncover the casserole and stir in the paprika and parsley. Increase the heat, add the brandy and flame it. When the flame dies down, stir in the potatoes, carrots, and leeks, and saute 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and saute 2 more minutes. Pour in the stock and wine, and add the chile pepper, and reserved dried pepper flesh. Season with salt and pepper, increase the heat and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Discard the chile pepper halves. Add the tuna to the soup, adjust the seasonings and simmer 3 to 5 minutes. Cover casserole and let sit 5 minutes.
• To serve, ladle warm soup into individual bowls, and float a piece of toasted bread on the top.

TUNA CRUSTED WITH PEPPERS WITH TANGERINE-GREEN ONION RELISH AND

Steps:

• Red-Wine Pomegranate Reduction:.
• Place wine and port in a small saucepan and reduce to 1 cup. Whisk in pomegranate molasses and sugar and taste for sweetness (add sugar if necessary). Whisk in cold butter just before serving and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Tangerine-Green Onion Relish:.
• Combine all ingredients (tip: you can substitute canned mandarin oranges) in a medium brown and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Tuna:.
• Season tuna on both sides with salt. Dust 1 side of the tuna with peppers (tip - you can substitute 3 parts sweet or smoked paprika and 1 part ground red pepper for the aleppo peppers). Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.
• Sear the tuna, pepper side down, until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes, turn over and continue cooking for 2 minutes for medium rare doneness.
• To plate, divide the melted leeks onto 4 plates. Arrange each tuna steak on top of melted leeks (rice works well too). Place a couple of tablespoons of the tangerine-green onion relish on top of the tuna. Drizzle the entire dish with red-wine pomegranate reduction.