Skip to main content

Grilled Tuna with Tomato and Caper Dressing

Tuna is usually overcooked in the Middle East. But the best way of eating it is seared on the outside and raw on the inside, which makes it deliciously, meltingly tender. Otherwise it quickly dries out. It can be brushed with oil and cooked on the barbecue or under the broiler, but an easy and perfect way is to pan-grill it. The dressing is a glamorized version of the ubiquitous oil-and-lemon one. It is good with all kinds of fish.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

8 tablespoons mild extra-virgin olive oil
4 tuna steaks
Salt and pepper
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tomatoes, diced
2 tablespoons capers, soaked to remove excess salt or vinegar (optional)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Film a grill pan or heavy nonstick skillet with oil. Put in the tuna steaks and cook over high heat for 1–2 minutes on either side, depending on their thickness. You should see the flesh still dark inside as it pales on the outside.

    Step 2

    For the dressing, mix the rest of the ingredients with the remaining olive oil. Heat through to not-quite-boiling point and pour over the fish as you serve.

  2. Variation

    Step 3

    Add 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, or 2 crushed garlic cloves and 1/4–1/2 teaspoon harissa (page 464), to the dressing.

Cover of Claudia Roden's The New Book of Middle Easter Food, featuring a blue filigree bowl filled with Meyer lemons and sprigs of mint.
Reprinted with permission from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, copyright © 2000 by Claudia Roden, published by Knopf. Buy the full book on Amazon or Bookshop.
Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.
Hawai‘i's beloved fried chicken is crispy, sweet, and savory.
Crunchy and crowd-pleasing, this salad can be prepared in advance and customized to your heart’s content.
This summery sheet-pan dinner celebrates the bounty of the season and couldn't be simpler to make. Chorizo plays nicely with the salad, thanks to its spice.