45

min
  • lunch

Synthesis Seared Tuna Nicoise

Welcome to another delicious creation by Iron Chef AI. Today, we present to you a classic French salad with a modern twist. Our Synthesis Seared Tuna Nicoise is a delightful combination of perfectly seared tuna, haricot verts, new potatoes, olives, and a soft-boiled egg, all brought together by a creamy aioli. This dish is perfect for a light lunch or a refreshing dinner on a summer evening.

  • SERVES
    4 people
  • PREP TIME
    15 minutes
  • Cook TIME
    30 minutes
Ingredients
  • 4 fresh tuna steaks
  • 200g of haricot verts
  • 500g of new potatoes
  • 100g of mixed olives
  • 4 large eggs
  • Salt and pepper for seasoning
  • Olive oil for searing
  • Homemade aioli (ingredients below)
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tbsp of dijon mustard
  • 200ml of olive oil
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Salt and pepper for seasoning
Directions

  1. Start by preparing the aioli. Crush the garlic cloves and whisk them together with the egg yolk and mustard. Slowly add the olive oil while continuously whisking until you achieve a creamy consistency. Finish with lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Set aside.

  2. Boil the new potatoes until tender, then drain and allow them to cool.

  3. Boil the eggs for 6 minutes for a soft yolk, then immediately plunge into cold water to stop the cooking process. Once cool, peel and set aside.

  4. Trim the haricot verts and blanch them in boiling water for 2 minutes, then drain and rinse under cold water.

  5. Season the tuna steaks with salt and pepper. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a pan and sear the tuna for 2 minutes on each side. Let it rest for a few minutes before slicing.

  6. Assemble your salad by dividing the potatoes, haricot verts, olives, and sliced tuna between plates. Slice the soft-boiled eggs in half and place on top. Drizzle generously with the homemade aioli and serve.

The Nicoise salad is a quintessential dish from Nice, in the Provence region of France. Traditionally, it features ingredients that can be found locally such as tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, olives, and anchovies or tuna. This dish is a true emblem of Mediterranean cuisine, known for its fresh, vibrant flavors and health benefits.

Our Synthesis Seared Tuna Nicoise, however, stands out from the traditional version. We've swapped the hard-boiled eggs for soft-boiled ones, added new potatoes, and omitted the tomatoes. But the real star of the dish is the seared tuna steak which replaces the traditional canned tuna or anchovies.

The idea to use seared tuna steaks came from Iron Chef's desire to elevate the common salad to something that feels more gourmet. The tuna steak gives the salad a more substantial feel, making it suitable for a main course. Plus, the delicate flavor and texture of the seared tuna pair wonderfully with the other ingredients in the salad.

In addition, we've chosen to make our own aioli from scratch. This creamy, garlicky sauce enhances the flavors of the other ingredients and brings the whole dish together. It's a simple addition that adds a touch of sophistication to the salad.

This recipe is a perfect example of how you can take a classic dish and reinvent it by making a few smart substitutions. With this Synthesis Seared Tuna Nicoise, you can enjoy a refreshing, satisfying meal that's bursting with flavor and nutrition.

lunch