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Oil-Poached Tuna and Potato Salad

By Jessica Rudolph

Published on April 20, 2022

Time

40 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Oil-Poached Tuna and Potato Salad

Ingredients

1 pound skinless tuna steak, 1 inch thick1½ teaspoons table salt, divided, plus salt for cooking potatoes1 teaspoon pepper, divided½ red onion, sliced thin½ teaspoon grated lemon zest plus ¼ cup juice (2 lemons)1 pound small red potatoes, unpeeled, quartered¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 head frisée (6 ounces), cut into 1-inch pieces1 orange, peeled, quartered, and sliced⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley ¼ cup pitted oil-cured black olives, chopped coarse

Before You Begin

Rinse the frisée well to remove any grit.

Instructions

  1.  Pat tuna dry with paper towels. Sprinkle all over with 1 teaspoon salt and ¾ teaspoon pepper. Combine onion and lemon juice in large bowl; set aside. Bring 2 quarts water to boil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add potatoes and 2 tablespoons salt; return to boil and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain potatoes, then spread out on large plate.
  2.  Meanwhile, heat oil in medium saucepan over medium-low heat until shimmering. Add tuna and cook, covered, until reddish pink at center when checked with tip of paring knife and registering 120 to 125 degrees (for medium-rare), 8 to 10 minutes, flipping tuna halfway through cooking. (Adjust heat as necessary to maintain small bubbles around edges of tuna.) Transfer tuna to plate and flake into large pieces with fork.
  3.  Mix ¼ cup oil from saucepan, lemon zest, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, and remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper into onion mixture. Add potatoes, frisée, orange, parsley, and olives and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer salad to platter and sprinkle tuna on top. Serve.
Oil-Poached Tuna and Potato Salad
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Kendra Smith.

Oil-Poached Tuna and Potato Salad

Save

Time

40 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound skinless tuna steak, 1 inch thick
1½ teaspoons table salt, divided, plus salt for cooking potatoes
1 teaspoon pepper, divided
½ red onion, sliced thin
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest plus ¼ cup juice (2 lemons)
1 pound small red potatoes, unpeeled, quartered
¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 head frisée (6 ounces), cut into 1-inch pieces
1 orange, peeled, quartered, and sliced
⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup pitted oil-cured black olives, chopped coarse

Ingredients

1 pound skinless tuna steak, 1 inch thick
1½ teaspoons table salt, divided, plus salt for cooking potatoes
1 teaspoon pepper, divided
½ red onion, sliced thin
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest plus ¼ cup juice (2 lemons)
1 pound small red potatoes, unpeeled, quartered
¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 head frisée (6 ounces), cut into 1-inch pieces
1 orange, peeled, quartered, and sliced
⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup pitted oil-cured black olives, chopped coarse

Ingredients

1 pound skinless tuna steak, 1 inch thick
1½ teaspoons table salt, divided, plus salt for cooking potatoes
1 teaspoon pepper, divided
½ red onion, sliced thin
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest plus ¼ cup juice (2 lemons)
1 pound small red potatoes, unpeeled, quartered
¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 head frisée (6 ounces), cut into 1-inch pieces
1 orange, peeled, quartered, and sliced
⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup pitted oil-cured black olives, chopped coarse

Why This Recipe Works

Cooking tuna gently in olive oil imbued it with extra richness and kept its texture ultratender.

Before You Begin

Rinse the frisée well to remove any grit.

Instructions

  1.  Pat tuna dry with paper towels. Sprinkle all over with 1 teaspoon salt and ¾ teaspoon pepper. Combine onion and lemon juice in large bowl; set aside. Bring 2 quarts water to boil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add potatoes and 2 tablespoons salt; return to boil and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain potatoes, then spread out on large plate.
  2.  Meanwhile, heat oil in medium saucepan over medium-low heat until shimmering. Add tuna and cook, covered, until reddish pink at center when checked with tip of paring knife and registering 120 to 125 degrees (for medium-rare), 8 to 10 minutes, flipping tuna halfway through cooking. (Adjust heat as necessary to maintain small bubbles around edges of tuna.) Transfer tuna to plate and flake into large pieces with fork.
  3.  Mix ¼ cup oil from saucepan, lemon zest, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, and remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper into onion mixture. Add potatoes, frisée, orange, parsley, and olives and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer salad to platter and sprinkle tuna on top. Serve.

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