Ahi Tuna with Napa Cabbage Salad

By pattie_d

Recipe courtesy Kathleen Daelemans

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
• Coarse salt and cracked black pepper
• 1 medium Napa cabbage
• 1 bag shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup basil leaves, torn into quarters
• 1/2 cup mint leaves, torn
• 1/2 cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
• 4 tablespoons black and white sesame seeds
• 1 pound ahi tuna steaks
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation

Step 1

In a large salad bowl, whisk together lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and sesame oil. Taste and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper. Cut cabbage in 1/2 lengthwise and slice into thin ribbons. Place cabbage, carrots, basil, mint, and cilantro in the bowl with the dressing. Toss to combine. Set aside.

Pour the sesame seeds out onto a plate. Press the tuna into the seeds on both sides, pressing gently so the sesame seeds stick.

Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick pan over medium high heat. Add fish to pan and cook until rare, about 2 minutes per side. Alternatively, cook until done to your likeness. Slice thin and distribute among 4 serving plates. Serve with a generous portion of Napa cabbage slaw.