Recipe: Grilled Tuna with Mint-Almond Sauce (Tonno Con Menta e Mandorle

GRILLED TUNA WITH MINT-ALMOND SAUCE
(TONNO CON MENTA E MANDORLE)

2 1/2 lb. (1-inch-thick) tuna steaks
FOR THE SAUCE:
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus additional for brushing
6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 cup white-wine vinegar
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh mint
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted and cooled

TO MAKE THE SAUCE:
Heat oil in a small heavy saucepan over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook garlic and vinegar, stirring, until garlic is pale golden, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.

Stir in mint and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in almonds just before serving.

TO COOK THE TUNA:
Prepare grill for cooking.

Brush tuna lightly with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill on a rack set over glowing coals until just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes on each side.

Serve tuna with sauce.

Excerpted from The Best of Gourmet by Gourmet Magazine Editors
Copyright 2001 by Gourmet Magazine Editors. Excerpted by permission of Random House, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.