Grilled Tuna and Avocado Salad
As a child I was enamored by cooking shows. You might remember my favorites. Of course, Julia Child on The French Chef. How could you not love Julia? But I also eagerly watched Wok With Yan, mostly focused on Asian stir-fries and The Cajun Cook, Justin Wilson, who seemed to shove whole garlic cloves into just about everything. I’m showing my age, aren’t I? These shows were delightfully quirky and on some level…enlightening!
Now days there are two people I always stop to watch: Bobby Flay and Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa. As I have already given away my feelings for sweet Bobby in Ready For A Throwdown, I’d now like to take a moment to pay Ms. Ina her proper respect.
What to say about Ina. (Sigh.) She’s like a young aunt, or older friend, to whom you would unabashedly pour out your soul, over a couple cosmos, homemade smoked salmon spread, and freshly baked baguettes!
I don’t generally make a habit of getting starstruck. In fact, I can’t think of a single Hollywood celeb that I would really care to meet. But Ina’s different. With her freshly cut peonies, her colorful friends in magenta sweaters, and her soothing river-stone voice, she lures me in every time. Plus I love the way she talks about her husband Jeffrey. She obviously, sees him as the sun and moon–and that just endears her to me even more.
Ina’s carefree cooking style is something I aspire to. She focuses on revamping the classics, and celebrating ingredients in a minimalist way. She doesn’t worry herself with trends and lavish presentation, just quality. Because of this, she exudes confidence and simple elegance in a way I rarely see. To top it all, every episode ends with a party or a quaint dinner-for-two in the garden. I can only dream that someday my days will end like The Barefoot Contessa!
So in honor of Ina, I give you one of her dishes that is perfect for summer.
Food is not about impressing people. It’s about making them feel comfortable. ~Ina Garten
Love you Ina!
Brush the tuna steaks with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the tuna steaks in a very hot saute pan and cook for only 1 minute on each side. Set aside on a platter.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the olive oil, salt, pepper, lime zest, wasabi, lime juice, soy sauce and hot sauce. Chop the avocados and add them to the vinaigrette.
Cut the tuna in chunks and place it in a large bowl. Add the scallions and red onion and mix well.
Pour the vinaigrette mixture over the tuna and carefully mix.
Grilled Tuna Avocado Salad
Ingredients
- 2 pounds very fresh tuna steak cut 1-inch thick
- 4 tablespoons olive oil plus extra for brushing
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus extra for sprinkling
- 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper plus extra for sprinkling
- 2 limes zested
- 1 teaspoon wasabi powder or paste
- 6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice 3 limes
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 10 dashes hot sauce such as Tabasco
- 2 ripe Hass avocados medium diced
- 1/4 cup minced scallions white and green parts (2 scallions)
- 1/4 cup red onion small diced
Instructions
- Brush the tuna steaks with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the tuna steaks in a very hot saute pan and cook for only 1 minute on each side. Set aside on a platter.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the olive oil, salt, pepper, lime zest, wasabi, lime juice, soy sauce and hot sauce. Chop the avocados and add them to the vinaigrette.
- Cut the tuna in chunks and place it in a large bowl. Add the scallions and red onion and mix well.
- Pour the vinaigrette mixture over the tuna and carefully mix.
I love Ina too. She is very inspiring so is your dishes. That salad and the panna cotta looks super delicious and inviting
lovely pictures looks delicious
I love watching Ina… I envy her lavish life style, but she most definitely seems like someone you'd want to spend hours talking with and eating her glorious food. I just sent the tuna recipe to Mountain Man and I've never made panna cotta so I think I'm going to have to give it a go.. for Ina :)
Both dishes look awesome. The tuna is seared to perfection and the panna cotta looks lovely!
BTW, I like Ina too :)
Your pictures made my mouth water. I love the strawberries with the panna cotta. MMMMM!
Two wonderful dishes! The combo of tuna and avocado in the salad is delightful and I just love those strawberries!
digging the strawberries with balsamic!
Hey Sommer, I love Ina too. I can't put my finger on why, as sometimes I find myself with some disapproval of her for different reasons I can put my finger on (smile). But, overall, I love watching her. She's so talented, pretty, and friendly. Wait, maybe I can put my finger on why I like her;)
Anyway, this meal looks delicious, and is very much like Ina.
I love your writings Sommer. Your posts are so enjoyable to read. And the photo's – wow…
I think she'd be happy with your whole homage to her talent and wonderful creations. The salad is beautiful, but I'm a panna cotta fan and that's a work of art.
I think she'd be pretty happy with this dish!
I always use vanilla beans myself too. :) Both the tuna salad and the panna cotta look delicious. Now I'm seriously craving some panna cotta…it looks so creamy and good.
Both of these dishes look deeelicious! I'm a big Ina fan, too!
I would love to move in Ina's house. Especially with the new addition, isn't it spectacular. And her garden is a dream. I also have almost all of her cookbooks and enjoy watching her shows. Every recipe I have made from her tastes fantastic.
You selected two wonderful dishes. I am sure they tasted great. Your pictures speak for themselves. Thanks.
Oh! I love Ina Garten, she is awesome, makes all those recipes seems simple to make. I have learned so much with her show. And Bobby Flay… his flavors are deliciously spicy. Love it. Your dishes look fantastic, great pictures. Have a great week.
What a pretty salad! I really like Ina Garten's recipes, too – she always makes very good use of the freshest produce.
Did you say that avocado makes everything better? :-)))I am totally with you!
And how I love your balsamic strawberries!
i like your meal,very healthy,with good ingredients and a fantastic look!