Pepper Seared Ahi Tuna with Brandied Brown Sauce

Lately, I've been doing a few photos and recipes for the Seattle Fish Company. Jon Daniels, the new owner, is a great guy and very active in the business. I just shot an image of Peppercorn Seared Ahi Tuna that should be appearing in their next newsletter, but it you follow my blog you get it here first!

This is an adaptation of a recipe from the Chart House. I love this combination and I think that you could serve it to a certified meat-eater and they'd love it too. It's a great combination of spice from the peppercorns, sweetness from the caramelized onions and richness from the sauce. I think it's just fancy enough to serve as a special holiday dinner and just easy enough to serve any night of the week.

Hope you like it too!

Pepper Seared Ahi with Brandied Brown Sauce
Serves 4

1 cup caramelized onions, recipe below
1 shallot, minced
1/4 cup brandy
1 cup beef or veal stock
2 tbsp butter
salt and pepper
4 6- to 7-ounce ahi tuna steaks
(each about 1 inch thick)
2 tbsp coarsely cracked black pepper
1 tbsp oil

Prepare caramelized onions and keep warm.

Place the shallots and brandy in a small sauce pan back over medium heat. Simmer until the brandy is almost gone. Be sure to keep stirring so the shallots don’t burn.

Once the brandy is almost completely cooked off, add the stock. Reduce the stock by at least half and more if you want the sauce thicker.

Add the butter and whisk until melted and the sauce has a velvety shine. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Keep warm while you prepare the tuna.

Sprinkle tuna steaks on both sides with salt, then sprinkle with coarsely cracked black pepper, pressing gently to adhere. Heat oil in large skillet over high heat. Add tuna steaks and sear until brown outside and just opaque in center, about 3 minutes per side.

Divide warm caramelized onions among 4 plates. Using tongs, place tuna steaks on the onions and spoon sauce over each.

Caramelized Onions
Makes about 1 cup

4 tbsp butter
2 large onions, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions and salt, and cook, stirring constantly, until the onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the sugar and cook, scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the pan frequently, until the onions are golden brown, about 20 minutes.