Kiss the Cook: Bring the beach home with blackened tuna bliss

Recently, I was on vacation to the Outer Banks, North Carolina, where I spent some time enjoying the local restaurants and cuisine.
It’s hard to visit a coastal beach area without having some seafood. During this trip, I was able to sample fried oysters, coconut shrimp, battered and fried soft shelled crab and blackened tuna. They were all delicious, but the blackened tuna sandwich was one that I definitely wanted to try to duplicate.
It was served with wasabi cream sauce, with a horseradish like flavor and kick to it. It was just a refreshing way to eat tuna, while sitting on the deck watching people wind surf on a sunny day.
Below is my attempt to get a recipe close to the one I had on my vacation. With two servings, you can easily share and impress your husband, wife, date or friend with this special meal. It’s quick and easy to prepare.

Blackened Yellowfin Tuna Sandwich with Wasabi cream sauce
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 8 minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients:
1 lb fresh Yellowfin Tuna (2-1/2 lb filets about 1” thick)
2 tbs butter
Cooking spray
2 Kaiser rolls
2 slices tomato
2 slices sweet onion (I prefer Vidalia when available)
Slice of lime
Pita chips (optional)

Blackened seasoning:
1 tbs paprika
½ tbs oregano
½ tbs thyme
½ tsp cayenne pepper (more or less depending on how spicy you want it, ½ tsp is about medium)
¾ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp Kosher salt

Wasabi cream sauce:
½ cup sour cream
1 tbs chopped fresh cilantro
1 tbs fresh lime juice
1 tsp wasabi paste

Directions:
1. Prepare the blackened seasoning by combining the ingredients and either placing this in a shaker bottle or simply mixing in a bowl. Mix well.
2. Prepare the wasabi cream sauce by combining the ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
3. Spray a heavy bottom skillet or grill pan (I prefer cast iron) with cooking oil. Add the butter and heat the pan to med high heat.
4. While the pan is heating up, take your 2 tuna filets and generously sprinkle the blackened seasoning on both sides. Once the pan is heated, place the 2 filets in the pan and cook approx.3- 4 minutes per side.
5. Serve on a Kaiser roll with a slice of onion, tomato and a tbs. of wasabi cream sauce. Squeeze some fresh lime juice over the tuna filet. Serve with pita chips and use the remaining wasabi sauce as a dipping sauce for the chips.