Seared Ahi Tuna With Lavender-pepper Crust

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 1/2 lbs center-cut fresh ahi tuna or inch thick sushi quality tuna steak
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon peppercorns
• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried lavender flowers (available in health food stores or use your home-dried flowers)
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 4 cups savory mixed fresh greens (and herbs)
• 4 tablespoons prepared whole grain mustard
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons toasted mustard seeds
• 2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons vegetable stock or 3 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon honey, to taste
• kosher salt
• fresh ground black pepper

Recipe

• 1 if using the center-cut ahi tuna, trim and cut the tuna into a block approximately 2 inches across; then cut into 1-inch steaks.
• 2 crush the salt, peppercorns, fennel seeds, and lavender with a mortar and pestle or a rolling pin.
• 3 lightly oil the tuna with 2 teaspoons of the olive oil; evenly coat the tuna with the lavender-pepper mixture, patting off any excess.
• 4 in a heavy bottomed sauté pan or a cast-iron pan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• 5 increase the heat to high and place the tuna in the pan.
• 6 sear for 1 minutes, then turn over carefully, reducing the heat to medium.
• 7 sear the other side for 1 more minutes until medium rare.
• 8 remove from heat and immediately refrigerate the tuna for at least 1 hour but no more than 3 hours.
• 9 to serve, arrange the greens on chilled individual serving plates.
• 10 drizzle with mustard seed dressing.
• 11 thinly slice the tuna and arrange on top of the dressed greens.
• 12 for the mustard seed dressing:.
• 13 preheat oven to 375°f.
• 14 place mustard seeds in a baking pan.
• 15 place in oven and roast for a couple of minutes (watch carefully so the seeds don't burn).
• 16 remove from oven and let cool.
• 17 whisk all the ingredients together and season to taste.