Seared Ahi Tuna with Wasabi Mango Avocado Salad

A light and refreshing meal that is quick to prepare and will sure to make your taste buds tingle with delight.  One hint, be sure to ask your market which tuna is sushi grade.  Usually it will not be the "fresh" but rather previously frozen ahi tuna as the freezing process kills off all the harmful bacteria.  Although you can use either one, just be aware of the potential risk if you are more inclined for the rare sear to the meat as you see above as it is recommended to fully cook through any fresh fish for the above reason.   Surprisingly, the wasabi in this does not add a spicy nasal clearing effect that would be expected from this variety of horseradish.  If you like a more "wow" factor from the wasabi, add more to the salad.  Given that we use wasabi powder in this, allow for a 10 minute saturation effect for the full "bang" of the ingredient.

Seared Ahi Tuna with Wasabi Mango Avocado Salad

For the Wasabi Mango Avocado Salad:

1 tsp grated ginger

1 ripe mango, diced (may need two if there is not much meat on the mango)

1 ripe (not soft) avocado chopped

juice from 1 lime

1/4 tsp wasabi powder (start with 1/4 for the hint of flavor; add more for more "zing")

Gently mix all ingredients together and set aside and chill until ready to use

For the Ahi Tuna

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup Mirin wine

juice from 1 orange

1/2 lemon juiced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 pound ahi tuna steaks (sushi grade)

1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds (or plain sesame seeds will work too)

1/4 cup poppy seeds

Mix marinade ingredients (soy sauce, wine, orange and lemon juices, garlic) together in a zip lock bag.  Add tuna steaks and let marinate for approximately 30 minutes.  

In a bowl, mix together the sesame seeds and poppy seeds.  Depending on the size of the fillets you may need more of this mixture.  Remove fish from marinade and coat all sides of fish in the seed mixture.

Preheat grill to high heat (or grill pan).  Spray with high heat grilling oil spray.  Sear tuna steaks 2-3 minutes per side for rare finish; 5 minutes per side for a more medium to well done finish.  Serve with Wasabi Mango Avocado Salad.