How about layers of colours and texture to celebrate
Spring.
Did you remember today is officially Spring? I hope you did because in my family, things like this would never be missed! How could we? There were
so many calendars at home, between
le calendrier de la poste (the Post Office Calendar),
le calendrier des pompiers (the Firemen Calendar) or
le calendrier du club de foot (the Football Club Calendar). I don't know whether this is a French tradition or what, but let me tell you, where I am coming from, I don't know many French family households who do not end up, every year, with less than 2 calendars at least.
Toc, toc... «-Bonjour, c'est pour le calendrier de la poste.
-Mamaaaaannnnn, c'est pour le calendrier de la poste!
-Oui, j'arriiiiiveeeuh.....
-Tenez, voilà!
-Merci beaucoup, au revoir!»
Knock, knock... "-Hello, I came to show you the Post Office Calendar."
"-Muuuum! Someone is here for the P.O. calendar."
"-Comiiiinnnggg!"
"-Here you are!"
"-Thanks a lot, bye!"
Grrr, another one!
You end up with
so many that you have no excuses to miss special days, such as March 21st, Spring Day!
I find it strange and funny to think how I came up with the idea for the dish that follows. I could think it has to do with the great
seared tuna recipes I had seen on both
Stephen's or
Tami's superb blogs. Maybe. Or from
Fred's as it turns out that her most
recent post presents a great seared tuna as well,
le steak de la mer (the ocean steak) as she puts it. It could be those, or it could
not be those. Still following me?
It was
not!
BUT it could have been. And why is that? Because I had planned to make this tuna dish weeks before, but was never able to due to a lack of
my baby in the kitchen pantry,
my pink peppercorns! So now that this major
malheur (misfortune) had been solved, I was a happy girl and could fulfill my tuna dream. Pink
rosé for the fish, fushia for the beetroot and pink for the seeds.
And what about a few words about the pink peppercorns. Let's put things straight. In view of comments left by my dear readers, some expectations rose high as to what I was going to make with those lovely seeds. Here is the truth: this recipe is NOT the one for which I used my peppercorns first. I cheated and decided to present the
tuna recipe first before the other mysterious one, just because I thought it was a more appropriate recipe for Spring Day. Of course, I was the only one to choose, so my life was easy. Let's just say you will get recipe #2 very soon. How about stretching the wait. I truly hope not to disappoint anyone - and now I better not!-, such as
Anita or
Fabienne who seemed to be waiting for something sweet, soft, delicate, such as a
to-die-for dessert! Sorry sorry! But my internal clock asked for
savoury (besides, don't you think I presented too many desserts these days?) I however truly look forward to trying the seeds in sweet preparations. As a matter of fact, I have an idea. What about asking
Rob? He surely would have great ideas for this kind of chemistry since he is so magnificently experimental with alternative flavors in his kitchen laboratory! Let's ask him what he thinks!
I hope you enjoy this
steak de la mer.
Il en vaut le détour! (It is worth stopping for it!)
Seared Spiced Tuna with Zucchini
(for 4 people)You need:
For the fish and vegetables- 4 small fresh tuna steaks, (3 inches wide, 1 inch thick, 2 oz each)
- 2 zucchinis
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tsp fresh chopped coriander
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Fleur de sel * (see note)
- 1 small fresh beetroot
- 1 tbsp white balsamic vinegar (found at WholeFoods or specialized stores)
- 2 tbsp hazelnut oil
- A few sprigs of fresh dill
- A dash of lemon juice (optional)
For the coating of the fish- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp pink peppercorn seeds
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- 1/3 tsp black peppercorn seeds
Steps:- Take a mortar and crush all the spices seeds together (except for the fleur de sel).
- Wash the zucchinis.
- Cook one zucchini cut in pieces in boiling water for 10 mns or so. Mix it well with a hand processor (30 s is enough).
- Chop in small cubes the other zucchini.
- Add salt and pepper, the mixed zucchini, and the fresh chopped coriander.
- Add 1 tbsp of olive oil and set aside.
- Take your tuna steaks and press gently the bottom and face in the crushed seeds.
- Take a large frying pan and heat one tbsp olive oil.
- Sear on each side for about 30 s or less. Make sure the tuna flesh stays rosé.
- Grate your peeled beetroot.
- Add salt and pepper.
- Mix together the balsamic vinegar with the hazelnut oil.
- Mix with the beetroot and set aside.
- Take a plate and in the middle, place a small portion of the zucchinis (the size of your tuna steaks) in the middle.
- Place the tuna steak on top and finish with some grated beetroot salad.
- Sprinkle with fleur de sel and a few dill sprigs.
- Sprinkle over a few more drops of olive oil and serve without waiting, with a dash of lemon juice if you like.
This is a great appetizer.
*
Fleur de sel (Flower of salt) is a hand-harvested sea salt, very delicate in flavour. It is collected from the top layer of salt before it sinks to the bottom of large salt pans (
Wikipidea reference). I find it a great addition for meals and use it very often. It should
not be cooked but added at the end, once the food is cooked.
IMPORTANT SPRING NOTE: I had a second thought. Is Spring today or was it yesterday? I am confused. I need one of those calendars!!!! It is a pity that the firemen don't come to sell calendars at my door here! Where are they?
26 Comments
K Kat & Satoshi ·
J Jen ·
R rob ·
B bron ·
F Fred ·
L Liza ·
P Papilles&Pupilles ·
A AnneE ·
G gattina ·
S stephen ·
G Gracianne ·
R Riana ·
F Fabienne ·
S sha ·
T Tea ·
B Béa ·
Jen, thanks for your nice note
Ah Rob, Excellent. I knew I had knocked at the right door! Thanks so much, SO! What are YOU going to make with them? I used pink peppercorns yes. ;-) Thank God for my hubbie!
Bron, thank you! Spring here, autumn for you !
Fred, thanks a bunch! I think your tuna steak was so zen and refreshing! I will def try it too.
Liza, tu es drôle! ;-) Alors toi aussi tu es victime de ces fameux calendriers, je le savais!
Papilles, merci
Anne, j'espère que cela ne colle pas trop! Et ton déjeuner, c'était bon?
Gattina, yes it is true, isn't it? Such a beautiful addition. I am like you, I have a lot of different salts. What are yours??
Stephen, thanks, yours is great!
Gracianne, merci beaucoup
Riana, un calendrier des pompiers, toi aussi! Ah ah! La pauvre. Miam, loup de mer, j'adore cela!
Fabienne, yes yes, we need those summer vegetables. I know I am crazy but I called around to get red currants and they told me June only! I knew that but tried anyway.
Sha, 3 calendars, poor you! ;-)
Tea, you are funny, but guess what, you are giving me an idea. Want to be my business manager? Thanks again all!
R rowena ·
B bonheursdesophie ·
F forgingtorrie ·
G gattina ·
B Béa ·
Sophie, merci
Forgintorrie, thanks for your sweet note. Yes I am like you, love beets and tuna very much too!
Gattina, Lovely to hear about your salt collection. I have most of the ones you have, with Maldon which I love! I also use a lot, in every day cooking one from Vogel called Herbamare, which a table sea salt with herbs. Then I have 3 types of Fleur de sel (;-) crazy eh?) Lima, Eden amongst the brands, and a new one I found flavored with paprika. Lovely taste AND pretty ;-) You make me curious about pink salt now too. What did they use it for?
G gattina ·
L lilizen ·
T tami ·
M melanie ·
M melanie ·