SEARED TUNA ON SPICED LENTILS SALSA

SEARED TUNA ON SPICED LENTILS SALSA image

Yield serves 4-6

Number Of Ingredients 18

4 x 160g-180g tuna steaks
Rocket leaves to serve
For the lentil salsa
100g Puy lentils, soaked for an hour in cold water and washed
20g fresh root ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 medium-sized mild chilli, de-seeded and finely chopped
1 small red onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, peeled and crushed
½tsp ground cumin
⅓tsp cumin seeds
2tbsp water
½tbsp balsamic vinegar
½tbsp sweet soy sauce or light soy
1tbsp tomato ketchup
½tbsp sweet chilli sauce
2tbsp olive oil
1tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves
Salt and pepper

Steps:

Cook the lentils in salted water for 15-20 minutes or until they are tender. Drain and cool them. Place the chilli and ginger in a pan with the onion, garlic, ground cumin and seeds, water and balsamic vinegar and simmer with a lid on for a few minutes, stirring well so that all the flavours infuse. Remove the mixture from the heat and pour into a bowl with the drained lentils. Add the soy sauce, ketchup and chilli sauce, stir well and gradually add the olive oil and chopped coriander. Season with salt and pepper, cover and leave in the refrigerator overnight (if time allows). Season the pieces of tuna and cook them on a griddle pan or heavy-bottomed frying pan for 2 minutes on each side. The ideal way to eat tuna is rare, otherwise it becomes dry. Once cooked, serve the tuna on warmed plates with a couple of spoonfuls of lentils and some salad leaves, such as rocket, lightly dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.