After a short summer break and a few days of rest at the beach house, I returned full of enthusiasm and with simple yet tasty ideas to propose in the kitchen! I hope you missed me as much as I missed you, but sometimes it is really necessary to disconnect from everything and everyone to regenerate and start off on the right foot! I must confess that, taking advantage of these vacation days, I tried to eat a little lighter, and these first recipes will feature ingredients that are inspired by taste but without too much excess! What I am proposing today, for example, is a simple dish in both its ingredients and procedure, but with excellent results and a great scenic effect, which doesn’t hurt! If like me you love strictly fresh tuna and pistachios, then you absolutely must try it! The fillets are very tender and melt in your mouth. The addition of Bronte pistachio and black sesame seeds, however, gives an external special crunchiness that I can’t describe to you; you’ll have to try it for yourself! One piece of advice. Although easy and quick, this recipe does present some challenges, foremost being the cooking of the tuna! For optimal results, the fillet must never be overcooked, so I recommend turning off the heat early to prevent its flesh from becoming dry and tough, losing all its flavor. Obviously, I recommend three minutes per side, but depending on the thickness you may need to adjust the cooking times. Also, since these times are rather short, ensure the tuna has been previously frozen to eliminate the risk of parasites. Once cooked, you can serve it sliced, accompanied as I did with a simple seasonal salad or, if you prefer, with steamed vegetables. Trust me, you’ll make a great impression!
CURIOSITIES. Did you know that tuna belongs to the category of blue fish? Its meat is quite lean and rich in unsaturated fats like omega 3, ideal for our body’s well-being.
You can find more fish recipes here:
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Medium
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Grill
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer
- Energy 316.30 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 2.62 (g) of which sugars 0.51 (g)
- Proteins 24.16 (g)
- Fat 23.76 (g) of which saturated 5.41 (g)of which unsaturated 11.50 (g)
- Fibers 2.05 (g)
- Sodium 562.49 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 100 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
⚠ THIS RECIPE CONTAINS ONE OR MORE AFFILIATE LINKS. The products I recommend are the same ones I use in my recipes; purchasing them through my blog supports me and my work, while it won’t cost you anything extra!
- 2 fillets tuna (about 10.5 oz each)
- 1/2 cup pistachio crumbles
- 1/3 cup black sesame seeds
- 4 tbsps extra virgin olive oil (+ as needed)
- as needed salt
- as needed pepper
Tools
- 1 Brush
- 1 Griddle
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Knife
Preparation
Brush the fillets of tuna with 2 tablespoons of oil on each side (fig. 1).
In a bowl combine the pistachio crumble and black sesame seeds, then coat the fillets in the mixture (fig. 2).
Then turn them and press to adhere on the other side as well (fig. 3)
Heat a grill pan very well. It must be scorching, or the result will be compromised. Then cook the fillets for about 3 minutes per side (fig. 4).
Remove the pistachio-crusted tuna from the grill and cut it into slices about 3/4 inch thick (if you followed the cooking times, it should remain pink inside), then place them on a serving plate.
Drizzle with a little raw oil, salt, pepper, and serve while still hot.
And voilà…your seared tuna with pistachio and black sesame seed crust is ready to be enjoyed!
Bon Appétit from La Cucina di FeFè!
Tips, notes, variations, and suggestions
🟣If you do not like black sesame seeds, you can replace them with white sesame seeds or poppy seeds. Or opt only for the pistachio crumble.
🟣Try gently spreading the tuna fillets with yellow mustard instead of oil before breading them, they are amazing!
🟣For a tastier and more scenic version: serve the fillets with a fresh and aromatic accompanying sauce: try grating the zest of an untreated lemon and extracting its juice. Mix them with plain yogurt and season with salt, pepper, fresh thyme, and dill. Or, drizzle the fillets with a reduction of sugar and balsamic vinegar prepared beforehand. Complete the dish with a side of your choice. You’ll impress everyone!
Storage
👉 This tasty main course should be consumed immediately, as it is still raw fish. Therefore, I do not recommend storing it in the freezer.
