Recipe for Disney Cruise Line’s Grilled Tuna

One of the many Disney Cruise Line dishes that guests are always raving about is Palo’s grilled tuna. Served with truffle-infused potato risotto, garlic-marinated artichokes and tarragon-veal jus, it’s pretty easy to understand why.

Today, not only am I sharing the at-home recipe with you, I also thought you might like a demonstration of how to make this mouth-watering dish. Take a look at this video with Palo’s Executive Chef Silvio as he shows you how we at Disney Cruise Line prepare and serve this entrée onboard.

Grilled Tuna with Truffle-Infused Potato Risotto, Garlic-Marinated Artichokes, and Tarragon-Veal Jus
Serves 4

Potato Risotto
1/2 pound russet potato, peeled and cubed
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 shallot, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup dry white wine (such as chardonnay)
1 cup heavy cream
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon white truffle oil
Freshly grated parmesan cheese, to taste

Tarragon Veal Jus
1 1/4 cups veal stock
1 cup dry red wine (such as merlot)
3 stalks fresh tarragon

Marinated Artichokes
1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 shallot, sliced
4 artichokes packed in oil,* drained, cut into thirds
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Grilled Tuna
4 (1/2-pound) ahi tuna steaks
Extra virgin olive oil, for grilling
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For marinated artichokes:

1. Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat until it shimmers. Add shallot and garlic, cooking until fragrant and golden.
2. Add artichokes, tomatoes, and chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sauté until tomatoes just begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and set aside until ready to serve.

For tarragon veal jus:

1. Combine red wine and tarragon stalks in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until reduced by 1/3, about 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Add veal stock and simmer until reduced by 1/3, about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve and set aside until ready to serve.

For potato risotto:

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook potatoes until tender but not falling apart, about 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add shallot, cooking until translucent. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds, or until very fragrant and golden.
3. Add white wine, simmering until reduced, about 3 minutes. Add cream, simmering until reduced and slightly thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Drain potatoes and return to hot saucepan to allow excess water to evaporate.
5. Gently fold cooked potatoes into cream mixture. Add additional salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and fold in truffle oil and parmesan cheese.

For grilled tuna:

1. Preheat grill to 400°F.
2. Rinse tuna steaks and pat dry. Brush both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Place tuna on hot grill and sear each side 2 minutes for rare. If you prefer well done, cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes per side.

To serve:
Evenly divide potato risotto among 4 serving plates. Cut tuna steaks in half and place over potatoes. Evenly divide artichoke mixture among plates and drizzle with tarragon veal jus.

*Note: Artichokes packed in oil can be found in specialty grocery stores, some supermarkets, and online at www.williams-sonoma.com.