By Lyndey Milan

Serving size: Serves 6
Cooking time: Less than 30 minutes
Course: Main
Favourite flavours: Seafood

Tuna with olive and tomato butter, white bean mash and cavalo nero

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 x 400g cans cannellini or butter beans, drained and rinsed
6 x 180g tuna steaks
1/4 cup (60g) olive tapenade
60g butter
250g cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
500g cavalo nero (Tuscan cabbage), washed and cut in 3cm slices

METHOD

1. Place 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the garlic in a large microwave-proof dish. Cook on high for 1 1/2 minutes or until the garlic softens, stirring halfway. Add beans and cook on high for 1 minute or until just warm. Mash until smooth; you may need to add 1-2 tablespoons of water if the mixture is dry.
2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the tuna steaks and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side for rare, or until cooked to your liking. Remove from pan, cover and keep warm.
3. Reduce heat to medium-low and add olive tapenade, butter and tomatoes to the same frying pan. Stir until butter melts and tomatoes soften slightly. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
4. Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add cavalo nero and toss for 4 minutes or until wilted and tender. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
5. Serve the tuna steaks with the olive and tomato butter, cavalo nero and white bean mash.

Not suitable to freeze. Cavalo nero suitable to microwave.

LYNDEY'S NOTES: This recipe is also delicious with white fish, chicken breast or thin steaks. You can use black or green tapenade or substitute good quality basil or rocket pesto. Cavalo nero, also known as Tuscan cabbage or Italian black cabbage, has dark, long, narrow, wrinkled leaves with a slightly bitter flavour, yet a sweet aftertaste. It doesn't lose volume like spinach or silver beet, though either of these can be substituted if cavalo nero is not available. For an ultra smooth white bean mash, use a food processor to puree the ingredients.