Nothing goes to waste- Broiled Tuna Collar with Citrus Soy Dipping Sauce

When I was in culinary school in Miami, a hurricane scare sent me running for shelter at a friend’s house. Lucky for me I picked a friend with a Tuna head in the freezer. This is how I was introduced to the best part of the fish you can get.

Now I go to my local fish monger at Catalina Offshore; it is not something they have daily. Every so often I walk through the doors and spot those beautiful tuna heads in the case and I know I am in luck. Or you can call in the morning (early in the morning- the earlier the better) and order them.

To make your life easy start with cooking the collar; think cooking a steak verses cooking a roast. Your fishmonger should remove most of the head and split the collar in half. This makes it super quick and easy to cook. But if you have the time to stew the whole head (I like to use a classic Jamaican curry style preparation)...go for it!!

If you love this recipe and want to learn how to make it; I am doing a joint cooking class with Tommy Gomes from Catalina Offshore on June 12 at Great News in Pasific Beach. The class will feature a variation of this recipe along with Heirloom Tomato, Avocado and Crab Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette; Low Country Shrimp and Clam Boil; Grilled Salmon Topped with Tomato, Caper, Basil Vinaigrette.

 

 

Broiled Tuna Collar with Citrus Soy Dipping Sauce

Serves 2 to 4

2                        Tuna collars (about 3 lb. total), cut in half and fins removed

As needed  Grape seed oil
As needed  Kosher salt

1/3 cup                Whitesoy sauce (Shiro)

½ cup                  Orange juice
1/8 to ½ tsp         Rayu (or Hot Sesame Oil).*
3                          Green onions, thinly sliced

½ cup                  Grated daikon radish

Preheat oven to 450°.

Lightly rub fish collars with oil and sprinkle both sides of fish lightly with salt.
Place a cookie cooling rack onto a foil lined cookie sheet; put collars skin side down, onto the cooling rack. Cook until collars turn golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes.
Remove collars from the oven; pour oil off of pan and rotating collar to skin side up.
Increase oven temperature to broil.
Return collars to the oven and cook until skin crisps and caramelizes, about 1 minute.
While the collars are cooking, prepare the sauce. Mix soy sauce, orange juice, hot sesame oil, and green onions in a small bowl.
Serve collars with a dipping bowl of citrus soy sauce and a small amount of daikon radish.

*If you don’t like spice replace the Rayu (or Hot Sesame Oil) with sesame oil.

This recipe is great for a hot summer night. I did it in the oven in this recipe but it could easily be done on the BBQ. The collar of the fish is very fatty (not a bad thing at all- for those that don't know the fattier the fish the less dry and the less likely you are to overcook it). Be very careful not to burn it.

Start by getting the grill super-hot; then reduce the flame to medium heat. I like to get a nice crust on the flesh side and then move it to the upper rack, being very careful of flare ups. Close the grill and cook for the same amount of time listed in the recipe. Checking every so often to make sure your fish has not caught on fire.