Ingredients:
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon coarse salt (kosher or sea)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 sushi-quality tuna steaks (each about 3/4 inch thick and 6 ounces each)
4 flour tortillas (8 inches each)
Fire-Charred Tomato Chipotle Salsa (recipe follows)
Cilantro sprigs for garnish
In a mortar using a pestle or in a small nonreactive bowl using the back of a spoon, mash together the garlic, salt, black pepper, and cilantro. Stir in the lime juice and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
Trim any skin or dark or bloody spots off the tuna steaks. Rinse the tuna under cold running water, then blot it dry with paper towels. Place the tuna steaks in a nonreactive baking dish just large enough to hold them and pour the marinade over the fish. Let the tuna marinate in the refrigerator, covered, for 30 minutes, turning once or twice so that it marinates evenly.
Set up the grill for direct grilling and preheat to high. If using a gas grill, place all of the wood chips or chunks in the smoker box or in a smoker pouch and run the grill on high until you see smoke. If using a charcoal grill, preheat it to high, then toss all of the wood chips or chunks on the coals.
When ready to cook, drain the marinade from the tuna steaks and discard the marinade. Lightly brush both sides of the tuna with olive oil. Brush and oil the grill grate. Arrange the tuna on the hot grate, placing it on a diagonal to the bars. Grill the fish until cooked to taste, 3 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare, 4 to 6 minutes per side for medium, rotating each steak a quarter turn after 1-1/2 minutes or so on each side to create an attractive crosshatch of grill marks. Test for doneness using the poke method: A medium-rare tuna steak will be gently yielding; a medium steak will be firm.
Meanwhile, warm the tortillas on the grill; it will take 10 to 20 seconds per side. Wrap the tortillas in a cloth napkin and place in a basket.
Garnish with the cilantro sprigs.
Fire-Charred Tomato Chipotle Salsa
Ingredients:
2 large ripe red tomatoes
1 small white onion, peeled and quartered
3 cloves garlic, peeled and skewered on a wooden tooth pick
1 to 2 chipotle peppers (see Note)
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, or more to taste
Coarse salt (kosher or sea) and freshly ground black pepper
Set up the grill for direct grilling and preheat to high. If using a gas grill, place all of the wood chips or chunks in the smoker box or in a smoker pouch and run the grill on high until you see smoke. If using a charcoal grill, preheat it to high, then toss all of the wood chips or chunks on the coals.
When ready to cook, place the tomatoes, onion, and garlic on the hot grate. Grill the tomatoes and onion until the skins are dark and blistered; grill the garlic until lightly browned. This will take 2 to 3 minutes per side (8 to 12 minutes in all) for the tomatoes and onion and 2 to 3 minutes per side (4 to 6 minutes in all) for the garlic. Transfer the grilled tomatoes, onion, and garlic to a plate and let cool. Remove the toothpick from the garlic. The grilled vegetables can be refrigerated, covered, for up to 2 days.
Mince the chipotle(s). Scrape any really burnt bits of the tomatoes. Combine the minced chipotles, cilantro, and lime juice with the grilled tomatoes, onion, and garlic in a food processor and process to a coarse puree. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper to taste and more lime juice as necessary; the salsa should be highly seasoned. The salsa is best served within 3 to 4 hours of being made.
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