Grilled Tuscan Tuna Salad
- Level: Easy
- Total: 1 hr 15 min (includes sitting and cooling time)
- Active: 40 min
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
Grilled Tuna:
One 1 1/2 pound fresh tuna steak
2 teaspoons ground fennel
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Canola oil, for brushing
Salad Dressing:
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus 1 to 2 tablespoons for serving
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 anchovy fillets, patted dry and finely chopped
1 clove garlic, smashed to a paste
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra virgin Tuscan olive oil
Honey, if needed
Salad:
One 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained, rinsed well and drained again
1 cup Gaeta olives, pitted
1/2 bulb fresh fennel, thinly sliced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
4 ounces mixed baby greens
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped fresh-flat leaf parsley
Loaf of Tuscan bread, grilled and drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil
Loaf of Tuscan bread, grilled and drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil
Directions
- For the tuna: Remove the tuna from the refrigerator 20 minutes before grilling. Heat a charcoal or gas grill to high for direct grilling. Mix together the fennel, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Brush the tuna with canola oil on both sides and sprinkle with the spice mixture. Grill until charred on both sides and cooked to medium doneness, about 5 minutes per side. Remove and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut into medium dice.
- For the salad dressing: Whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, rosemary, anchovies and garlic in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Slowly pour in the olive oil while whisking, until it all emulsifies. For a sweeter and thicker texture, whisk in a teaspoon of honey at a time, until desired taste and consistency is reached.
- For the salad: Combine the beans, olives, fennel, onion and tuna in a large bowl. Add the dressing and gently toss to coat. Add the greens, basil and parsley , season with salt and pepper, and toss again.
- For serving: Mound the salad on a platter and sprinkle the remaining lemon juice over the top.
