Hi everyone! I'm super excited to be back visiting with Jenny today because I have a special dish that I prepared for the first time and I was so pleased with the results! Have you ever had a dish in a restaurant and thought that you'd like to create it at home but you weren't quite sure if you could do it? This time I didn't hesitate and just went for it. What's the worst that can happen? You blow it and have to order pizza? That's not always a bad thing!

Yellow Fin Tuna with Mango Salsa

 

I've always loved the look and flavors of yellow fin tuna but given that it's eaten rare, I was a little reluctant to try cooking it. I used to feel the same way about mussels and now I cook them at least once a month. Some dishes seem intimidating but when you examine the cooking methods, they are often the most simple.

This comes together so quickly that you should make your salsa ahead of time because dinner will be ready before you know it. Your kids may look at this a little quizzically the first time but after the first bite, they'll be converts. Like salmon, tuna has loads of healthy omega 3's so it would be a great addition to your meal rotation.

 

This is like cooking a steak. Simply season and place the tuna steaks in your pan on medium high heat or on the grill rack directly over medium coals. Cook, uncovered, for 4 to 6 minutes per ½-inch thickness or until fish begins to flake when tested with a fork but is still pink in the center, turning once halfway through cooking. I brushed the tuna with a little olive oil after turning just because well ... it seemed like a good idea at the time.

The fresh, zesty taste of the mango salsa is a great match and you'll be convinced you're in that expensive restaurant paying $35.00 a plate. And we all know the wine is much cheaper at home, too!

 

Tuna can be expensive so look for the sales but be cautious. Sometimes those sales mean they're trying to get rid of old fish rather than a large inventory. The best cuts of tuna are bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye and albacore. The best tasting ones will vary in color from deep red to pink. Look for moist (but not wet or weepy), shiny, almost translucent meat. This means the steak is fresh and newly cut. If they look brown, they are old. Something else to watch for is 'gapping' - when the meat of the muscle starts to separate into flakes. This is also a sign of old age. If you're still not sure, ask the fish monger for a smell - it should smell like fresh salty sea air, not overly fishy.

I'm such a big fan of seafood and salmon has always been my number one choice but after cooking this, I say, "move over salmon, there's a new fish in town!"

I hope you'll try this and let me know how you like it. I also love to post readers' pics of their creations on my blog so come visit and share.

Thanks so much, Jenny. It's a genuine pleasure to contribute to your blog 🙂

Calories: 398

Some of my favorite seafood recipes:

Spicy Lime Shrimp and Drunken Grapes  // Mediterranean Salmon  // Shrimp Saganki

Robyn lives in Canada and has an affinity for all things ocean, especially seafood. She loves finding new ways to create dishes with fresh ingredients, low in calories and most of all, DELICIOUS! She believes healthy dishes do not have to be time consuming and expensive and she wants to convince you of that, too! You can also connect with Simply Fresh Dinners here:

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