Cooked with plenty of olive oil, as well as garlic, red pepper, and tomato, the tuna acquires a deep flavor and melt-in-your-mouth tender texture. The recipe was inspired by the technique of poaching food in olive oil, which produces rich results similar to this dish. Serve it over pasta for a great weeknight meal.
SERVES 6
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes with their juice
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ cup brine-cured capers, drained and finely chopped if large
- 2 pounds tuna steaks, 1-inch thick
- ½ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat the oil in the pressure cooker over medium-high heat.
- Add the garlic, pepper flakes, and onion and sauté for 2 minutes to soften the onion.
- Add the tomatoes, thyme, bay leaf, and capers.
- Lower the tuna into the sauce.
- Lock the lid in place and cook at high pressure for 3 minutes.
- Release the pressure naturally.
- Once the pressure is released, leave the lid on for another 10 minutes while the fish steeps in the oil.
- Remove the lid, tilting the pot away from you to avoid the escaping steam.
- Lift the tuna out of the pot and transfer to a serving platter.
- Skim off any excess fat from the sauce and remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf.
- Add the parsley to the sauce, taste for seasoning, and add salt and pepper if necessary.
- Spoon the sauce over the tuna and serve any remaining sauce on the side.