SEARED TUNA WITH TOMATO AND ROASTED CORN SALSA

Steps:

• Roast the Corn
• Preheat the oven to 450°F. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• Put the corn kernels on the baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, and black pepper to taste. Spread the corn out evenly on the baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes. You want the corn to take on a golden brown color. It may seem that you have left the corn in the oven for too long, but you want the corn to caramelize and get a little crunchy. Remove the corn from the oven and set aside.
• Prepare the Salsa
• While the corn is roasting, combine the tomatoes, scallions, cilantro, and avocado in a bowl. Finely grate the zest of 1 lime and add it, along with its juice, to the bowl. Toss well.
• Once the corn is ready, toss it in the tomato mixture and season with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Set aside.
• Prepare the Tuna
• Using a paper towel, pat dry the tuna steak and season with a dusting of salt and cayenne.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the tuna and cook to medium-rare, turning once. The time it will take for the tuna to cook depends on its thickness. If you're able to get a thick piece of tuna (about 1 1/2 inches thick), allow the tuna to sear for 4 minutes on each side for a medium-rare doneness. Thinner steaks will cook in less time. Ultimately the tuna's thickness and your preferred level of doneness will determine how long to cook the fish.
• Assemble the Dish
• Cut the remaining lime into wedges. Serve the tuna along with the tomato and roasted corn salsa and garnish each serving with a lime wedge and sprigs of cilantro.
• Cooking Notes
• INGREDIENTS
• Frozen Corn
• If you are using frozen corn, measure the amount needed before defrosting.
• Tuna Steaks
• Try to buy a very thick piece of tuna-ideally 1 1/2 inches thick. This will allow you to achieve a nice olden brown crust while maintaining a rare center.
• TECHNIQUES
• Searing Tuna
• Searing fish on a hot griddle or skillet is the best way to achieve a golden crust while maintaining a moist interior. While grilling is very popular, I find that it dries out the fish too much. To properly sear, make sure you start off with a hot pan and oil. Place the meat in the pan and leave it alone until it develops a golden brown crust.
• Roasting Corn
• For this recipe, you are looking to do more than just cook the corn through. You want to caramelize its sugars-making it sweet-and change its texture- making it crunchy. Leave the corn in the oven until its color changes from yellow to a deep golden brown.
• ADVANCE PREPARATION
• The salsa can be made up to a day in advance, although it is best to keep the corn separate so as to maintain its crunchy texture.
• The tuna can be made a couple of hours ahead of time, stored in the refrigerator, and served at room temperature.