Don't let my tan fool you, I'm a Pacific Islander. Yes, my Island is a bit North of Hawaii, but let's not split hairs.
We were recently back in Hawaii, staying at the beautiful Sliding Wall house just up the mountain from the world class beaches of the Big Island. I would wake up to a panoramic view that stretched from the snow-capped peak of Mauna Kea, past Mauna Loa and Hualalai to the sparkling Pacific. From this house, it feels like you have the largest Hawaiian island all to yourself.
The Big Island is renown for fishing and also produces exquisite grass-fed beef, available at the unbeatable Honokaa Country Market. Fish and cows are basically neighbors on the Big Island, so I felt that I should help them share a plate.
Big Island Style Surf and Turf Recipe:
ingredients:
Tuna Loin
- 1 lb fresh Ahi (yellowtail tuna)
- 1/4 cup raw sesame seeds
- 1/2 t salt
- 1/2 t pepper
- Soy sauce and wasabi for dipping
Grass Fed Beef
- 2 NY Strip or Ribeye Steaks
- 1 T Salt
- 1/2 T Pepper
- 4 T Butter
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- handful of local cherry tomatoes
Local Broccoli
- 1 lb Local broccoli
- cooked after the steak in the remaining butter
Hawaiian Sweet Potato Mash
- 1 lb Hawaiian sweet potatoes
- 1 lb sweet potatoes
- 4 cloves garlic, diced
- 2 T butter
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup cream
Instructions:
Chop potatoes into 1 inch cubes, and boil until tender. Fry chopped garlic in butter until it begins to brown, then mash together with the softened sweet potatoes and cream. Salt and pepper to taste.
Salt and pepper tuna loin and beef steaks liberally. Roll the tuna loin in sesame seeds and sear over high heat in lightly oiled skillet, 30 seconds each side. Rest for 10 minutes, then slice into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices and serve with soy and wasabi.
Dry beef with paper towel, and sear on high heat (with tomatoes) in preheated and lightly oiled skillet until one side has evenly browned (approximately 3 minutes). Flip steak and tomatoes, reduce heat to medium, and add butter and rosemary. Baste with butter until medium rare. Rest 10 minuted before slicing.
While beef rests, cook broccoli in the steak skillet in the remaining butter until just tender-NOT mushy.
