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Chile-Crusted Tuna Tacos

4.7

(49)

Cooks' note:

·If you aren't able to grill outdoors, tuna can be cooked in a hot lightly oiled well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderately high heat.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    1 hour

  • Yield

    Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

1 cup fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon minced canned chipotles in adobo (including sauce)
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 lb (1 1/2-inch-thick) sushi-grade tuna steak
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 (9- to 10-inch) flour tortillas
1 cup matchstick (1/8-inch-thick) pieces of jicama (from 1 small jicama, peeled)
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 firm-ripe California avocado
1 cup loosely packed arugula, coarse stems discarded

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring orange juice, chipotles, and vinegar to a boil in a 1- to 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced to a generous 1/3 cup, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.

    Step 2

    While sauce cools, prepare charcoal or gas grill for cooking. If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill, then light charcoal. Charcoal fire is medium-hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds. If using a gas grill, preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then reduce heat to moderately high.

    Step 3

    While grill heats, stir together coriander, cumin, chili powder, black pepper, and kosher salt in a shallow bowl. Brush tuna on all sides with 1 tablespoon oil (total), then coat all sides evenly with spice mixture.

    Step 4

    Grill tuna on lightly oiled rack, uncovered, turning to brown all sides, until browned on outside but still rare in center, 8 to 10 minutes total. Let tuna stand 10 minutes.

    Step 5

    While tuna stands, heat tortillas on grill, turning over once, until warm, about 1 minute, and keep warm, wrapped in foil.

    Step 6

    Toss jicama with cilantro, lime juice, remaining tablespoon oil, and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl. Halve, pit, and peel avocado, then cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices.

    Step 7

    Put a tortilla on each of 4 plates. Divide arugula, jicama, and avocado among tortillas, arranging evenly down center of each. Slice tuna 1/4 inch thick and divide among tacos. Drizzle chipotle sauce evenly over tuna and roll up tacos to enclose filling.

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