Wasabi connection

If you accidentally skip some days at the gym or miss a spa appointment, eating light and healthy really makes up for it...yummy salads are guilt-free and I really feel pampered after having a scrumptious, crunchy, refreshing salad.

Here's what we had for dinner today: Seared Ahi Tuna Steak Salad w/ Wasabi Vinaigrette ( for two)

Ingredients:

1 large Ahi Tuna steak

sesame oil for searing tuna

rice wine or white wine to slightly marinate the tuna steak

1 tablespoon of wasabi paste

salt and pepper ( both black and white)

1/4 sliced onion

Fresh salad greens

2 roma tomatoes

baby carrots

1 sprig of spring onions

crushed wasabi peas

1 and half tablespoons of wasabi paste

2 tablespoons cup white wine vinegar

1/4 cup sesame oil

1/4 cup olive oil
fresh cilantro
salt & freshly ground black pepper

For the wasabi vinaigrette salad dressing:

Whisk together wasabi paste, vinegar, sesame oil and olive oil. Toss in cilantro and add salt and pepper for seasoning. We like strong wasabi tastes, the kind where you have wasabi rushing straight to your nose with every bite you take...the kind where I have to pace myself because we enjoy the torture of wasabi =) so I generously use two tablespoons (or more than two tablespoons )of wasabi paste to make the wasabi dressing

Searing the Ahi Tuna Steaks:

Slightly marinate the tuna steaks in white wine/ rice wine, salt and pepper ( both white and black pepper), and smear some wasabi paste on top of the tuna steak. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. In a hot pan, heat up sesame oil with low heat and saute onions. Add tuna steak and sear on both sides until cooked. Cut the tuna steaks into triangles ( triangles always taste better!)

Assembling the salad:

Rinse and drain greens, toss in sliced roma tomatoes and chopped baby carrots ( for a good crunch). Drizzle wasabi vinaigrette. Lay the triangle tuna steaks on top of salad. Add the cooked sliced onions on top of the tuna steaks. Sprinkle chopped spring onions, and crushed wasabi peas. Toss before serving.

If you love wasabi, try this recipe! Or, try Emeril @ foodnetwork's recipe for Seared tuna salad with a wasabi vinaigrette and crispy wontons