The inspiration for this dish was the wonderful southern French salad, Niçoise. The traditional salad is quite hearty, with tuna boiled potatoes, green beans, capers, anchovies, olives and boiled eggs. Way more than 5 ingredients. This is my minimalist version. You can serve the tuna as a whole steak or tear the cooked tuna into chunks, mix it with the tomato, capers and rocket and drizzle over some mayonnaise.
Seared Tuna and Cherry Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 2 tuna steaks approx 1cm thick
- 2 handfuls cherry tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons capers optional
- 1 bag rocket arugula or other salad
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
Instructions
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Heat a large frying pan or skillet on medium-high heat.
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Rub tuna with oil. Season.
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Add fish and tomatoes to the hot pan. Sear for about a minute on each side.
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Serve steaks sprinkled with capers (if using) and tomato. Serve rocket or salad and mayonnaise on the side.
Variations
vegan – use 2 portabello or field mushrooms per person and sear until tender, about 4 minutes each side. Use a vegan mayo.
carnivore – replace tuna with minute beef steaks, pork or lamb cutlets.
vegetarian – try halloumi sliced 1 cm thick and pan-fried until golden on both sides – about 3 minutes a side.
egg free – use a vegan mayonnaise or serve with hummus or a big squeeze of lemon juice instead.
different fish – try different fish fillets or steaks. Most will work well with the tomatoes.
carb lovers / more substantial – serve with roast or mashed potatoes, roast root veg or crusty bread and butter.
more substantial (low carb) – serve with avocado.
keto / ultra low carb – skip the cherry tomatoes.
more veg – add grilled zucchini & eggplant.
Waste Avoidance Strategy
tuna steaks – freeze.
cherry tomatoes – use for another meal or try these home dried tomatoes.
capers – pantry if salted or in the fridge if in brine and jar is opened. Keeps for years.
rocket (arugula) or salad – best to use for another meal. Can be frozen but will wilt when defrosted.
mayonnaise – should keep in the fridge for months. Don’t freeze as it will split.