Seared Ahi and Avocado Salad…plus 8 Summertime Dinners on the Panini Press

First, let’s talk about this Seared Ahi and Avocado Salad. It’s inspired by one of my best friends who doesn’t consider herself to be much of a cook but is the queen of our local takeout scene. A favorite order of hers is a seared ahi salad that’s been tossed in ginger vinaigrette with goodies like avocado, edamame, roasted red bell peppers, and greens. With the tuna on top (seared on the panini press in just 90 seconds!) it’s substantial enough for dinner, but it’s still light and cool for summer. I love it!

I’ve got lots of great ideas for making summertime dinners on the panini press – a few of my favorites (in addition to today’s salad) include:

• Spinach-Feta Quinoa Cakes with Lemon-Dill Yogurt Sauce
• Grilled Shrimp Tostadas
• Spatchcocked Game Hen
• Hamburgers
• Foil-Grilled Salmon with Pesto and Tomatoes
• Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Chimichurri and Fingerling Potatoes
• Panini-Grilled Chicken Teriyaki

Stay cool…and happy grilling!
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Seared Ahi and Avocado Salad

Recipe by Kathy Strahs, PaniniHappy.com

Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 2 minutes | Total time: 22 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

Tuna:

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 (1-pound) sashimi-grade ahi tuna steak, about 1 inch thick
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Ginger Vinaigrette:

• 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Freshly ground black pepper

Salad:

• 1 head butter lettuce, torn into large pieces
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup sliced roasted red bell peppers
• 1/2 cup shelled cooked edamame, thawed if frozen
• 1 medium-size ripe avocado, pitted, peeled, and sliced

DIRECTIONS:

1. Tuna: Heat the panini press to high heat. If your panini press comes with a removable drip tray, make sure it is in place.
2. Brush the olive oil over both sides of the tuna and season the tuna with salt and pepper.
3. Grill the tuna, with the lid closed, until it’s seared on the outside but still bright red on the inside, about 90 seconds. Transfer the fish to a cutting board and slice it thinly across the grain.
4. Ginger Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, ginger, honey, mustard, and sugar. Gradually whisk in the olive oil Season the vinaigrette with black pepper to taste.
5. Salad: Toss the lettuce, onion, peppers, edamame, and 2 tablespoons of the ginger vinaigrette together in a large bowl.
6. Divide the salad among four plates. Arrange slices of tuna and avocado on top of each salad and drizzle more ginger vinaigrette over the top (you probably will have extra dressing for a later use).