Tuna Escabeche

Photo: flickr user jlastras

Ingredients

2 lrgs Tuna, steaks, (about 8 oz each)

cup Juice, lime, fresh

cup Water

1 teaspoon Salt

teaspoon Oregano, toasted *

2 Bay leaves

2 Allspice, whole

teaspoon Peppercorns, black

teaspoon Cumin seeds

1 Clove

1 Cinnamon, stick

1 lrg Garlic, clove, peeled

teaspoon Sugar

1 Garlic clove, minced, toasted **

cup Vinegar, red wine

cup Oil, olive

medium Onion, sweet, sliced into thin rings

2 Chilies, red, sliced into thin rings

Preparation

* Toast just until the odor of the oregano is noticeable, do not burn.

Oregano will begin to smoke lightly when ready.

** Mince the garlic, and saute it quickly in a very hot pan with as little olive oil as possible. Toast it until it's slightly browned. Remove from heat and reserve.

Marinate the steaks in lime juice, water, and salt for 1 hour.

Sauce:In a grinder or mortar, put the toasted oregano, bay leaves, allspice, peppercorns, cumin seeds, whole clove, salt, coriander, cinnamon stick, fresh garlic clove, and sugar. Grind thoroughly then add toasted garlic.

Put the ground mixture in a saute pan and add 3/4 of a cup of water, 1/2 cup of red wine vinegar, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Assembly:Meanwhile, remove the steaks from the marinade, take off their skins, cube, then pat dry.

Heat another saute pan, then add olive oil. Put the Tuna into the pan and saute until it has a light, golden crust.

Reserve the Tuna on a serving dish.

Pour the oil from the pan and deglaze the pan with 1/4 cup red wine vinegar. Add herb and vinegar sauce to deglazed pan and bring to a boil.

Add a touch of water if sauce becomes too thick.

Spoon sauce over fish and garnish with sweet onions and red chilies.

Serve at room temperature.