Sesame Crusted Tuna with Wasabi Sauce

It's been a long, busy Summer but I hope to be back cooking and sharing again this Winter.  Tonight was Sesame Crusted Tuna with Wasabi Sauce. It was my first time making this and it was very good. I will add this into my rotation. I had found this recipe online a long time ago and don't know who to credit it to.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons wasabi powder
1/3 cup Braggs Liquid Aminos
3 tablespoons peanut oil
1 tablespoon dry sherry
1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
24 ounces tuna steaks (4-6 oz steaks)
5 tablespoons white and black sesame seeds

Directions:
1. Whisk 1/2 cup water and wasabi powder in medium bowl to form smooth paste. Whisk in soy sauce, 2 tablespoons peanut oil, sherry, and sesame oil and then set aside.
2. Coat each side of the tuna steaks with the sesame seeds.
3. Heat 1 Tablespoon of peanut oil in a heavy skillet over high heat.
4. Add the tuna and sear until opaque in center, about 3 minutes per side.
5. Remove the tuna from skillet and add the sauce to the skillet. Lower heat to simmer and reduce sauce until thick.
6. Pour the sauce over the tuna and enjoy.

Russian Shashlik

These are pretty much Russian Shish-ka-bobs, but they were wonderful.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 -2 pounds boneless beef sirloin or tenderloin tips

1 large onion coarse grated

1 large onion, cut into 1 inch pieces

6 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup dry red wine

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 bay leaves

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp fresh ground pepper

1 large green pepper (I used red instead)

Directions:

1. Trim meat into 1 1/2 inch cubes

2. Combine grated onion, garlic, wine, wine vinegar, olive oil, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper in large dish.

3. Add beef and toss to coat beef.

4. Let marinade for 4-8 hours, the longer the better.

5. Assemble Kabobs using marinaded meat, cut onion, and cut pepper.

6. Grill over high heat until done, marinading every few minutes if desired.

7. Enjoy!!!

This recipe was from Steven Raichlen's Barbecue Bible

Lettuce Bundles with Grilled Beef in a Lemongrass Marinade and Thai Peanut Sauce

This recipe is a bit complex, but very good. There are 3 parts to it, so I will do one section for each. This isn't a LC recipe but I cut out the sugar and noodles it calls for, and it turned out good.

Main Ingredients:

1 boneless sirloin steak cut one inch thick

1 bunch fresh basil, stemmed

1 bunch fresh mint, stemmed

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and thinly sliced

1 head Boston or Bibb lettuce, separated and dry

Aromatic Lemongrass Marinade

Thai Peanut Sauce

Aromatic Lemongrass Marinade Ingredients:

3 stalks fresh lemongrass or 3 strips lemon zest

2 large shallots, coarsely chopped

5 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

5 tbsp Asian fish sauce

3 tbsp fresh lime juice

1 tsp fresh ground black pepper

Thai Peanut Sauce Ingredients:

2 tsp minced peeled fresh ginger

1 hot chile (serrano, jalapeno, etc)

1 clove garlic, minced

2 scallions, both white and green parts

1/3 cup chunky peanut butter

1/3 cup coconut milk

2 tbsp Asian fish sauce or Braggs liquid Aminos

1 tbsp fresh lime juice

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

Thai Peanut Sauce Directions:
1. Combine the ginger, chile, garlic, scallions, peanut butter, coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice, and cilantro in a small saucepan.

2. Bring to a boil, stirring to mix well, then reduce to low and let simmer 5-10 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and taste for seasoning. Should be served warm or at room temperature. Should be think but pourable.

Aromatic Lemongrass Marinade Directions:

1. Combine lemongrass, shallots, and garlic in a mortar and pound to a coarse paste.

2. Work in the fish sauce, lime juice, and pepper.

3. If you do not have a mortar and pestle, use a blender and process to smooth puree.

Main Directions:

1. Cut steak into 1/8 inch wide strips and put in the marinade. Let marinade in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or longer.

2. Put the meat on skewers and grill over high heat, 1-2 minutes per side for well-done.

3. Combine the basil, mint, jalapeno slices, and meat on a lettuce leaf and dip in the peanut sauce and enjoy.

This recipe is based on one from Steven Raichlen's Barbecue Bible.

Beef Sirloin Salad

Simple salad with some nice grilled beef sirloin.

Ingredients:

8 oz sirloin steak, 1 inch thick

2 cups romaine lettuce, washed, dried, and broken up

1/2 medium ripe tomatoes (I used cherry tomatoes)

1/8 sweet red onion, thinly sliced (I used scallions)

Salad Dressing of your choice (I use Ranch or Blue Cheese)

Directions:

1. Prepare Steak as desired (Grilled or broiled are best)

2. Arrange lettuce on plate.

3. Cut steak into thin slices across the grain.

4. Put on tomatoes and onions and top with dressing.

Very simple, yet very yummy, especially if the meat is still warm. Can also be done with chicken as well.

Recipe from Dana Carpenders 500 LC Recipes

Shish-Kabobs

I know, this isn't difficult, but figured I'd post it just to give someone the idea. We had not made them in about a year because we just never thought about it.

Ingredients:
Stew Meat or whatever else you want
Red, Yellow, and Green Peppers
Grape Tomatoes
Mushrooms

Directions:
1. Dice everything up.
2. Put on skewers (don't forget to soak the wooden ones first if you use them)
3. Grill on medium heat about 5 minutes per side.

You can use whatever you want to for seasoning on the meat. A marinade would be good. We just use olive oil to coat the meat, then seasoned with black pepper, seasoned salt, blackened seasoning, garlic, coriander, and a bit of paprika. Turned out very good.

Just grillin'

Ok, I know I haven't put up a post in a few weeks, but I've been doing some simple grilling lately with no new recipes. Just yummy food.

Dinner tonight was grilled chicken, grilled ribs-on-a-stick, and some deep fried jicama. Very simple but oh so tasty.

Chipotle Burgers

Here's a burger that takes a bit of work making the different sauces, but it is worth it. Very good. A bit spicy, but you can always back down on the amount of chipotle to meet your needs.

There are 3 different parts, so I'll go through them one at a time.

Dana's No-Sugar Ketchup
Ingredients:
6 oz tomato paste
2/3 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup Splenda (optional)
2 tbsp minced onion
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground allspice
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp pepper

Directions:
1. Put everything in a blender and run until onion disappears. Store in a container w/tight lid in the fridge.


Chipotle Sauce
Ingredients:
3/4 cup mayo
3 chipotle chilies canned in adobo
2 tbsp Dana's No-Sugar Ketchup

Directions:
1. Measure mayo and ketchup into a bowl.
2. Chop up the chipotles quite fine and mix into mayo/ketchup sauce.

Chipotle Burgers
Ingredients:
2 pounds ground beef
6 chipotle chilies canned in adobo sauce
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 cup minced onion
1/2 tsp salt
6 oz Monterrey Jack cheese, sliced

Directions:
1. Mix everything but the cheese in a big bowl and form into 6 big burgers (or however many you want).
2. Let the burgers chill for an hour in the fridge (it makes them easier to handle).
3. Grill on medium heat until done (approx 7-10 minutes per side).
4. Put on the cheese to let melt and then serve with the chipotle sauce on top.

This recipe was from Dana Carpender's LC Barbecue book.