This Asian-inspired recipe for fresh tuna is quick and perfect for a weeknight dinner. The mild-tasting, firm-fleshed fish is basted with an easy-to-make teriyaki sauce and topped with a flavorful cilantro and green onion salad. Serve with steamed rice and stir-fried veggies. Enjoy!

Note: I used ahi tuna (frozen then thawed) that I bought at Trader Joe’s.  

Tuna Teriyaki with Scallion Salad
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine 

Tip: If your scallions are large and strong-flavored, slice them as thinly as you can and soak them in ice water for 10 to 15 minutes. Dry the scallions on paper towels before making the salad.

Serves four.

6 Tbs. soy sauce
3 Tbs. firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 tsp. finely grated fresh ginger
1 medium clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp. Asian sesame oil
4 6-oz. tuna steaks, 1 inch thick
1/8 tsp. ground cayenne
8 slender scallions, dark green parts only, trimmed and thinly sliced diagonally (about 3/4 cup)
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 Tbs. rice vinegar

Make the teriyaki sauce:
Bring the soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic to a boil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan. Boil until the mixture has thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1/2 tsp. of the sesame oil.

Broil the tuna:
Position an oven rack 5 to 6 inches from the broiler element and heat the broiler to high. Line the bottom of a broiler pan with foil and replace the perforated top part of the pan. Season the tuna on both sides with the cayenne and arrange on the broiler pan. Broil the tuna for 2 minutes, brush generously with the teriyaki sauce, and broil until the glaze sets, about 2 minutes longer.

Turn the tuna over with a spatula and broil for 2 minutes, brush generously with the teriyaki sauce, and broil until the tuna is pale pink in the center or to desired doneness (cut into a piece to check), about 2 minutes longer. Brush with any remaining teriyaki sauce.

Meanwhile, stir together the scallions, cilantro, vinegar, and the remaining 1/2 tsp. sesame oil. Transfer the tuna to serving plates, top with the scallion salad, and serve.

Tags: Asian, fish, fresh cilantro, fresh ginger, green onions, homemade teriyaki, scallion salad, scallions, Seafood, sesame oil, soy sauce, teriyaki, tuna, tuna steaks

When life gives you salmon, make salmon cakes! That’s what I did recently with some leftover grilled salmon from the previous night’s dinner. Heck, I’d even cook salmon for the sole purpose of making these delicious, savory cakes. I’m getting hungry just thinking about them!

I used plain bread crumbs instead of the cornflakes, and added a dash of cayenne pepper to both the cakes and sauce. I fried the patties in olive oil in two batches so the pan wasn’t too crowded, and kept the first batch on a cookie sheet in a warm (not hot) oven. The patties could even be made smaller and served as an appetizer.

The horseradish-spiked mayonnaise is an excellent compliment to the salmon cakes. If using dried thyme in the mayonnaise, mix it together and refrigerate it for at least an hour. This will give the dried herb time to soften up.

Salmon Cakes with Lemon-Herb Mayonnaise
-recipe from epicurious.com

If you don’t have fresh salmon, canned salmon is a perfectly fine stand-in. Makes 6 salmon cakes.

2 cups loosely packed crumbled cooked salmon
1/2 cup cornflake crumbs
2 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dried
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
1 large egg

3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
2 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter

Combine first 7 ingredients in medium bowl and stir gently to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Mix in egg. Shape salmon mixture into 6 patties, about 3/4 inch thick. Arrange on plate.

Combine 3/4 cup mayonnaise, lemon juice, horseradish and 2 1/2 teaspoons thyme in small bowl. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. (Salmon cakes and sauce can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap separately and refrigerate.)

Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-low heat. Add salmon cakes and sauté until brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to platter. Serve with sauce.

Tags: fish, lemon-herb mayonnaise, salmon cakes