Super Bowl recipes from Morton'sWe’re concluding our ‘Football and Fridays’ series leading up to this weekend’s Super Bowl with a more sophisticated recipe for your football fans…our Seared Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Soy-Ginger Sauce.  For this, we have Troy Aikman to thank!

Aikman, Dallas Cowboy superstar and Hall of Fame quarterback, is regarded as one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time. He led his team to three Super Bowl victories. He also knows a great seafood dish when he tries one! This tuna is one of his favorites.

Serves 6

Soy-Ginger Sauce
¾ cup soy sauce
½ cup white rice vinegar
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
1 ½ tsp. minced peeled fresh ginger
1 ½ tsp. finely minced garlic
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Seared Sesame-Crusted Tuna
Six 10-ounce tuna steaks, each about 1 inch thick
¼ cup white sesame seeds
¼ cup black sesame seeds
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
½ cup sesame oil
2 tsp. wasabi paste
1 lemon, quartered
4 sprigs flat-leaf parsley

To make the sauce:

  1. Whisk together the soy sauce, vinegar and sesame oil.
  2. Add the ginger, garlic and pepper flakes and stir to mix.
  3. Set aside.

To cook the tuna:

  1. In a shallow dish large enough to hold a tuna steak, mix together the white and black sesame seeds.  Season both sides of the tuna steaks with salt and pepper.
  2. One at a time, put the tuna steaks in the sesame seeds, pressing them into the fish to adhere. Turn the steak over and press the seeds into the other side to distribute evenly.
  3. In a large sauté pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, sear the tuna steaks for about 1 minute on each side. Using tongs, hold the tuna upright to brown the edges in the hot oil and until the tuna steaks are medium-rare. For more well-done tuna, increase the cooking time by 30 to 60 seconds on each side.
  4. Lay a tuna steak on each of the 4 serving plates. Spread a little wasabi paste on each lemon quarter.
  5. Garnish with a lemon quarter and parsley sprig. Serve the sauce on the side.

Whether you go the more traditional route and serve potato skins and chili, or if you’re feeling a little more fancy and serve this tuna dish, I hope you’re able to enjoy good food, good friends and some good football.  May the best team win!

Enjoy!

Chris Rook
Corporate Chef
Morton’s The Steakhouse

If you’re looking for someone else to do the cooking on Super Bowl Sunday, Morton’s has you covered!  Join us in the bar for appetizers, reserve a private room with state-of-the-art AV, get Morton’s Prime To Go or call in your Prime Platter order for an easy option!  (Hours and participation vary by location.)