Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Tuna Steak with Spaghetti Squash Pancakes: 3 Ingredient Recipe #6





Well, I'm over the hump on the 10 day challenge and I find myself contemplating a spaghetti squash.  It's been sitting in my kitchen for a good week, waiting to be made into something tasty.  I halved and baked the squash and then contemplated one of the halves.  I had been thinking of baking and then deep-frying the ribbony flesh into crisp golden tendrils, so I heated up some oil and set to adding the shredded squash to fry.  The result was far from what I expected: The strings clung together in masses that looked like brambly, oil soaked nests.  FAIL.

Very glad I had another half, I started again, this time deciding to try just a quick pan saute in olive oil, but keep the essence of the squash in tact.  It wasn't as pretty, but I had a tasty blend of textures: vegetal and crisp.  It looked like a nice bed to serve under... something.  I had a plan for that, too: tuna steaks with a roasted garlic/peppercorn crust.  They turned out as luscious as filet mignon, but with a balanced lightness that married well with the squash.  I hope you try this, it's surprisingly good.


For a refresher on the rules of my 10 day, 3 ingredient challenge, check out the first post.

3 Ingredients...
  1. 2 tuna steaks
  2. 1 spaghetti squash - cut in half and seeded
  3. 8 cloves of garlic, roasted 
What to do with it all...
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  • Place squash face up on middle rack of oven and roast for 45 mins or until fork tender - remove and allow to cool
  • Once cool enough to handle, begin using a fork to pull flesh out in ribbon-like "spaghetti"
  • Heat olive oil in a medium ovenproof saute pan on medium-high and add half of the squash "spaghetti"
  • Saute on medium-high for a couple of minutes, shaping like a pancake, then flip and repeat
  • Remove to a paper towel to drain and sprinkle w/salt and pepper
  • Repeat process w/second half of squash and set aside
  • Turn on your oven's broiler to high
  • Mash roasted garlic with a fork and add a tablespoon of roughly cracked peppercorns and sea salt to taste
  • Press the garlic/pepper paste to each of the tuna steaks on one side
  • Heat your ovenproof saute pan again on medium-high heat with more olive oil
  • Add steaks, naked side down and sear for a few moments, shaking to ensure it does not stick to bottom
  • Remove from stove and place under broiler for 2 - 4 mins depending on your broiler - you want the steaks to be just barely cooked on the outside, very pink in the middle
  • Place one squash pancake on each plate and slice tuna steaks into medallions and serve on top of pancakes




Six down, four to go!

6 comments:

  1. Gutsy difficult challenge. Very smart of you to use top notch ingredients. Tuna is like a filet in the respect that it needs very little adornment. Well done.

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  2. I LOVE it! I was lucky enough to have a mouthwateringly tasty tuna steak for lunch yesterday, and I'm still thinking about it. I keep reading about spaghetti squash, and desperately want to try it, but I don't think we have them here? Will continue to eat vicariously through food blogs I guess.. thanks for the virtual feast :D

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  3. Looks yummy. I would have never thought to combine tuna steaks with spaghetti squash.

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  4. I love this. You are doing a fantastic job with your challenge!

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  5. @Conor - A quick search on Google tells me you can get spaghetti squash in Perth, but may need to order it from the greengrocer - in the meantime I'll keep making dishes to entice you to get some! :)

    @Tasty Eats - Honestly it was just a fluke that I even thought to put these together - as the squash is a bit starchy, though, I thought they might work with the tuna as it was being treated like a steak. I'm just relieved it worked! :)

    Much thanks to Cocina, Sophie, and Spicie!

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  6. Seriously. Where have you been all my blogging days. I am a terrible cook. I fail constantly! I love the idea of just 3 things. Love it like crazy!

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Thanks for commenting - I'm always happy to hear from you!

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