Seared Tuna with Avocado Grapefruit Salad

It’s Valentine’s Day, and instead of braving the crowds at some fancy expensive restaurant, we decided to cook our own gourmet meal. We splurged on some sushi-grade ahi tuna, and the results were gourmet indeed. Not to mention the entire meal cost us maybe $15 tops. I dare you to find a meal like this for a price like that!

Avocado Grapefruit Salad with Citrus Mint Dressing

(Recipe from: Sunset, with a few modifications)

INGREDIENTS
2 red or pink grapefruit (3/4 lb. each)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon shallot, finely minced
2 firm-ripe avocados (10 to 12 oz. each)
2 blood oranges (optional)
1 package baby greens, rinsed
Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS
Cut peel and white membrane from grapefruit. Working over a strainer set over a bowl, cut between inner membranes and fruit to release segments into strainer. Squeeze juice from membranes into bowl (discard membranes); you need about 1/4 cup juice (reserve any remainder for other uses). Do the same with the blood oranges (if you’ve got them).
Add lemon juice, mint, shallot, and honey to grapefruit juice, and mix.
Peel and pit avocados; cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Arrange a handful of greens on each of 4 salad or dinner plates and arrange equal portions of grapefruit segments and avocado slices on top.
Spoon dressing evenly over salads. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cumin Crusted Tuna

INGREDIENTS
Sushi grade tuna
Cumin
Salt
Pepper
Olive Oil

DIRECTIONS
Rub tuna with salt, pepper, and cumin. You can be pretty generous with the cumin.

Heat olive oil in hot pan and sear tuna for about 2 minutes per side (more or less depending on how ‘raw’ you want it).

Slice and enjoy!

Pan-Seared Scallops on Red Onion Marmalade

Another special treat, but quick at the same time. Taylor wasn’t a fan of the lemon/ginger combination on the scallops, and thought garlic would work better. We both agreed, however, that the marmalade was fabulous and gave the dish great flavor. Pretty too. :)

Pan-Seared Scallops on Red Onion Marmalade

Makes 4 servings. Recipe from Bon Appetit.

INGREDIENTS
16 large sea scallops (about 1 3/4 lbs)
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
3 medium red onions, thinly sliced
1/3 cup dry red wine
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons golden brown sugar
chopped fresh chives

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Toss scallops, 2 tablespoons oil, lemon peel, and ginger in medium bowl. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add scallops; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until brown and opaque in center, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer scallops to small baking sheet; place in oven to keep warm.

Add 3 tablespoons oil to drippings in same skillet; place over high heat. Add onions; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until brown, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add wine, vinegar, and sugar. Cook until onion marmalade is thick, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon marmalade onto plates. Top with scallops and any juices, then chives

Peanut Curry Noodles with Seared Shrimp & Scallops

In my obsession with all things pumpkin, I found this recipe. When we went to make it, however, we made an executive decision to leave the pumpkin out. We felt there were TOO many things going on in this recipe, and decided that simplifying it would be in our best interests.

The results were delicious. A yummy peanut sauce and perfectly spiced seafood were a delicious combination. The pumpkin was not missed at all. We also added some coconut milk to the sauce to thin it out a bit, and a bit of sesame oil for some toasted flavor. If you’re not a big seafood fan this same noodle/sauce combination would be great with chicken or beef, or plain by itself. Delicious.

Peanut Curry Noodles with Seared Shrimp & Scallops

Makes 4 servings. Recipe from Rachel Ray, with modifications.

INGREDIENTS
1 package noodles (we used the refrigerated kind found by the wonton wrappers)

5 tablespoons vegetable oil or peanut oil
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 inches ginger root, minced or grated
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 to 1/3 cup tamari dark soy sauce
2 rounded tablespoonfuls red curry paste
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/2 cup light coconut milk
2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoons five-spice powder
12 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
12 diver scallops, trimmed and patted dry
4 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces, then thinly sliced lengthwise into matchsticks
1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro

DIRECTIONS
Heat a large pot of water for noodles. When water boils, add noodles and cook according to package directions.

While noodles cook, heat a large, deep skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil. Add garlic, ginger, red bell pepper, and pepper flakes to the pan and cook together a couple of minutes, then add peanut butter and melt it. Whisk soy into peanut butter, then stir in curry paste. Turn down the heat to low. Add sesame oil, coconut milk, and brown sugar and stir until combined. Adjust seasoning as necessary (you probably won’t need salt, but taste just in case).

Heat a small to medium skillet over high heat. Rub seafood with spice powder. Add 3 tablespoons of remaining oil to hot skillet. Place the shrimp in the pan and cook 1 minute, flip and sear the other side until just opaque. Remove shrimp to a plate and set aside. Add another 3 tablespoons of oil to the skillet and heat back up to smoking. Add the scallops and sear on both sides until opaque. Remove scallops and add to the plate of shrimp.

Drain noodles and return to pot. Add the sauce and toss thoroughly. Serve noodles on plates and top with scallions, cilantro, and seafood.

This was almost like our go-to red curry recipe, but without the red curry. And honestly, it was a few days ago that we made it, and I really don’t remember it much. It wasn’t bad, but obviously wasn’t out of this world. Searing the tofu gives it a nice color and near-crispy outside, and the sauce is, well, coconut-y. What else did you expect?

Obviously, some dishes on this blog garner more dialogue. This one, not so much. Doesn’t mean it’s not worth a try. On to the recipe!

Seared Tofu with with Green Beans and Asian Coconut Sauce

Makes 4 servings. Recipe from Epicurious.

INGREDIENTS
1 (14- to 16-oz) package firm tofu
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
1 lb green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch-long pieces
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips (2 inches long)
1 teaspoon salt
1 (14- to 15-oz) can unsweetened coconut milk (not low-fat)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/3 cup chopped salted roasted cashews

DIRECTIONS
Halve tofu lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices and pat dry well. Put 1 tablespoon soy sauce in a wide shallow dish, then add tofu, turning to coat, and let stand 10 minutes. Pat tofu dry.

Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until hot but not smoking, then add tofu in 1 layer and cook, turning over once, until tofu is browned, about 6 minutes total. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a large plate, reserving oil in skillet.

Add garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes to skillet and sauté, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add beans, bell pepper, and salt and sauté, stirring, 1 minute.

Stir in coconut milk and remaining tablespoon soy sauce and bring to a boil, then boil, uncovered, until beans are tender, about 6 minutes. Transfer vegetables using a slotted spoon to plate with tofu.

Simmer sauce until thickened slightly and reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 2 minutes. Stir in lime juice and pour sauce over vegetables and tofu. Sprinkle with cashews.

Pan-Seared Flat Iron Steak with Spicy Cilantro Sauce

I’ve never had flat iron steak before. But our freezer now has a box of them (thanks Mom!) so we thought we’d seek out the best way to cook them. I guess it is similar to a flank steak (if you can’t find flat iron), but honestly it might be my favorite cut. It was incredibly tender, not chewy like some beef can be. Definitely not something you want to overcook, so watch it carefully.

The cilantro sauce was refreshing. Tangy. Slightly spicy. Delicious.

We served this with some roasted veggies, potatoes and brussels sprouts, which were also delicious when drizzled with the cilantro sauce.

A keeper for sure!

Pan-Seared Flat Iron Steak with Spicy Cilantro Sauce

Recipe from Whole Foods.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup roughly chopped cilantro
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 cup plus 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste
2 (10– to 12-ounce) flat iron steaks

DIRECTIONS
Combine the cilantro, garlic, 1/2 cup of the oil, lemon juice, cumin, chili powder and salt in a blender or food processor and purée until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning. Set sauce aside.

Sprinkle steaks on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add steaks and cook to desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare or 4 to 5 minutes for medium.

Transfer steaks to a cutting board, tent with foil and let rest for 5 minutes before thinly slicing. Serve with sauce on the side.