Recipe: PAN-SEARED TUNA WITH TOMATO AND BASIL

Bon Appétit | May 2000

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 1/2 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, peeled, coarsely chopped
1 bay leaf
1 cup fresh basil, torn into bite-size pieces

4 6-ounce tuna steaks (each about 1 inch thick)

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, parsley and garlic. Saute until onion is tender but not brown, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaf. Cover and cook until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm before continuing.) Discard bay leaf. Mix in torn basil. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper.

Sprinkle tuna with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in another heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tuna and cook until golden and just opaque in center, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer tuna to platter. Spoon sauce over tuna.

Makes 4 servings. If two servings are desired, make the full recipe of the sauce. IMPORTANT: When searing 2 tuna steaks, use a smaller skillet--just big enough to hold them without overcrowding.