Crusted Ahi over Ponzu with Roasted Garlic Tahini

Togarashi Furikake Crusted Ahi
Over Ponzu
Roasted Garlic Tahini Sauce
Garnished with Serrano, Kaffir Lime Shards, Wasabi, Borage

Choosing the right fish for your dish can have a positive impact on the marine environment and the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium would like to help educate local consumers on this important topic. Today, FRIENDS of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium hosted its first Sustainable Seafood Expo, a fun and delicious way to sample new seafood dishes, wines and craft beers while learning how to make the best selections when dining out or cooking at home.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is one of 200 partners in the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch, which produces pocket guides and a smart phone app recommending which seafood items are “best choices,” “good alternatives” or “avoid.”

Seafood Watch recommendations consider the fishery, habitat, species, management, and a host of factors that affect each species. The goal is to help sustain wild, diverse and healthy ocean ecosystems that will exist long into the future. Consumers are encouraged to purchase seafood that is fished or farmed in ways that don’t harm the environment. (from Sustainable Seafood Expo press release)

My “contribution” to the event is a recipe for sustainable Yellowfin (Ahi) Tuna, Pole Caught right here off our Pacific Coast.

Yellowfin tuna is found throughout most of the world’s oceans. Many types of gear are used to catch tuna. Not all yellowfin fisheries use ocean-friendly methods and some populations are overfished. Look for troll- or pole-caught yellowfin as the most sustainable option. (from SeafoodWatch here)

Crusted Ahi Recipe

Togarashi Fukikake is a blend of black and white sesame seeds, red pepper, salt, white pepper, dried bonito, kelp, powdered plum, and powdered red perilla. It is available at Asian markets. And it is way more interesting than the ubiquitous simple sesame seed crust…

A trimmed loin of fresh yellowtfin tuna is seasoned with Kosher salt and black pepper. Then it is coated on all sides with the togarashi furikake mix.

Melt butter in a non-stick pan over high heat, adjust heat so the butter does not burn. Cook the loin for 30 seconds to one minute on all sides to form a nice crust.

Roasted Garlic Recipe

Cut the very top off a garlic head to expose the cloves. Place in a small baking dish. Drizzle olive oil over the top. Cover and cook in a 400° oven for about 35 minutes until the garlic cloves are browned and soft. Let cool then squeeze the cloves out of the skins.

Roasted Garlic Tahini Sauce

1/4 c. tahini
3 roasted garlic cloves, mashed
1 T. lime juice
salt to taste

Blend all the ingredients together to form a smooth sauce.

Let the seared tuna rest briefly, then slice into approximately 3/8″ pieces with a very sharp knife. Clean the blade after each slice for a neat presentation.

Ponzu Sauce

rice vinegar
tamari
lime juice

Combine equal parts of the ingredients. Pour onto a serving plate in a thin layer.

Place sliced tuna over the ponzu. Drizzle with roasted garlic tahini sauce, then garnish with a tiny dollop of wasabi, super-fine kaffir lime shards, thin serrano chile wheels, and a borage flower.

Fall Fest

featuring

Dishes with Roasted Garlic

Fall Fest is a season long franchise where Food Network editors team up with bloggers to share recipes about everyone’s favorite autumn dishes. Be sure to check out the Pinterest Board with over 200,000 followers called Let’s Pull Up A Chair!

And if Crusted Ahi with Roasted Garlic Tahini got you in the mood for everything garlicky – you might enjoy taking a peek at other delicious recipes from some fabulous bloggers below…

The Lemon Bowl: Crispy Garlic Baked Chicken Breasts
Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Roasted Garlic Tomato Pasta Sauce
Big Girls, Small Kitchen: Baking Sheet Spaghetti with Roasted Garlic, Peppers & Eggplant
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Red Swiss Chard with Roasted Garlic & Balsamic
Red or Green: Pasta Puttanesca with Roasted Garlic
Taste with the Eyes: Crusted Ahi with Roasted Garlic Tahini
Dishing With Divya: Baked Salmon with Garlic and Herbs
Virtually Homemade: Roasted Broccoli and Garlic with Feta Cheese
The Cultural Dish: Roasted Garlic Infused Olive Oil
Domesticate Me: Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Garlic, Goat Cheese and Pepitas
The Mom 100: Roasted Garlic and Tomato Bread
Devour: Roasted Garlic Recipes Worth Worshipping
FN Dish: 10 Excuses to Eat Roasted Garlic