Tuna steaks with basil sauce

6 Servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
1 cup Plain nonfat yogurt
⅓ cup Packed fresh basil leaves
¼ cup Blanced garlic puree*
Salt and pepper
12 smalls Red new potatoes
⅓ ounce Dried porcini mushrooms
½ teaspoon Fennel seeds
½ teaspoon Black peppercorns
6 5-oz. tuna steaks, 1\" thick
Vegetable oil spray
2 pounds Fresh spinach, stems removed
1 pint Cherry tomatoes, halved

Directions

*could use roasted garlic puree instead ~Spoon yogurt into a strainer lined with a paper coffee filter or cheesecloth. Set the strainer over a small bowl and refrigerate until most of the liquid has drained off the yogurt, about 3 hours. ~In a mini-processor or blender, combine ⅓ c basil leaves, blanched garlic puree and drained yogurt - season with salt and pepper. Puree the sauce until smooth. Transfer to a bowl. (This sauce can be made up to 8 hours ahead and refrigerated - bring to room temp before using) ~In a steamer basket set over a pan of simmering water, cook the potatoes until tender, about 17 mintues. Let cool sloghtly; cut into quarters.

~Meanwhile, in a spice grinder or mortar, gring the dired porcini, fennel seeds and peppercorns to a fine powder. Pat the tuna steaks dry and season both sides with salt. Sprinkle the porcini powder all over the tuna, pressing it into the surface. ~Lightly coat a large nonstick skillet with vegetable spray and heat. Add the tuna steaks and cook over high heat until browned on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes.

Lightly coat the top of the tuna with vegetable spray, then turn and cook until browned outside but still rare in the center, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer the tuna to a cutting board and cut into ½ inch slices. Wipe out skillet and set over high heat. Add the spinach,season with salt and pepper and cook just until wilted. Add the tomatoes and stir until heated through. Mound spinach on plates.

Arrange tuna and potatoes around the spinach and drizzle about 2 tablespoons of the basil sauce. Garnish with the chopped basil and serve at once. Reprinted from Food and Wine - June 1996.

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