Hot Penne With Chilled Tomato Sauce And Charred Tuna

Name: Hot Penne With Chilled Tomato Sauce And Charred Tuna
Total time: 25 min
Yield: four servings
Cuisine: italian
Ingredients: 4 large red, ripe tomatoes, about 3 1/2 pounds, cored and quartered; 3 garlic cloves, peeled; 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, stemmed, washed and patted dry; 1 tablespoon capers, drained, washed and patted dry; 16 black nicoise olives, pitted; 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 3 peels lemon zest; Salt to taste; Freshly ground pepper to taste; Salt to taste; 1 pound penne; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; 1 12- to 16-ounce tuna steak; Kosher salt to taste

By Christopher Idone

Total Time: 25 minutes
Rating: 5(7)
Comments: Read comments

Featured in: FOOD; HOT TOMATOES

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Ingredients

Yield:four servings

The Sauce

4large red, ripe tomatoes, about 3½ pounds, cored and quartered
3garlic cloves, peeled
½cup fresh basil leaves, stemmed, washed and patted dry
1tablespoon capers, drained, washed and patted dry
16black nicoise olives, pitted
½cup extra-virgin olive oil
3tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3peels lemon zest
Salt to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste

The Pasta

Salt to taste
1pound penne
1tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

The Fish

112- to 16-ounce tuna steak
Kosher salt to taste

Ingredient Substitution Guide

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Preparation

Step 1
Place all the sauce ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse on and off until roughly chopped. Pour the sauce into a bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Step 2
Bring four quarts of water to the boil with one tablespoon of salt, or to taste, and add the penne. Cook, stirring down with the fork, for 10 to 12 minutes.
Step 3
Meanwhile, place a cast-iron skillet over high heat and sprinkle the pan with one tablespoon of kosher salt. When the salt begins to sputter, add the tuna steak, sprinkle the top of the steak with more salt and cook until lightly charred, about three minutes per side. Transfer the steak to a cutting board.
Step 4
Drain the pasta and toss with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Divide the pasta and sauce among four dishes. Slice the tuna into quarter-inch slices and place over the sauce. Serve immediately.

Tip

The tuna will be rare. Depending on your taste, transfer the steak to an oven-proof dish and bake in a heated 300-degree oven an additional 8 to 10 minutes or until opaque throughout or slightly pink in the center.