Cumin-Seared Tuna with Jalapenos

Serves 2

• 1 pound very fresh tuna
• 2 jalapenos
• cumin
• kosher salt
• white pepper
• Sesame oil

Slice jalapenos as thinly as you can, no more than 1 millimeter thick. It is more important that the jalapenos be thin than that they be complete circles. If you have a mandolin, use it.

Pat dry tuna with paper towels. Liberally sprinkle salt, pepper and cumin on each side of the tuna steaks. Pat spices firmly only the tuna.

Heat a pan to very hot. Add sesame oil and allow it to get very hot, too. Add tuna, sear on each side for 1 minute.

Remove steaks from pan and slice across the grain into 1/4" slices. Arrange on plates, serve a bowl of jalapeno slices with each.

Appetizer variation. Take each slice and cut it up further, into 1" square slices. Place tuna on a serving platter, add a jalapeno slice on each piece of tuna. 1 pound of tuna will serve around 20 people.