Tuna With Tomato-Basil Sauce (Tonno Alla Livornese)

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup celery, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 1 1/2 lbs ripe plum tomatoes, peeled, coarsely chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup fresh basil, torn into bite-size pieces
• 4 (6 ounce)  tuna steaks (bout 1 inch thick)
• fresh basil sprig

Directions

1. 1

   Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat.

2. 2

   Add onion, celery, parsley and garlic. Sauté until onion is tender but not brown, about 10 minutes.

3. 3

   Add tomatoes and bay leaf.

4. 4

   Cover and cook until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead.)

5. 5

   Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm before continuing.

6. 6

   Discard bay leaf.

7. 7

   Mix in torn basil.

8. 8

   Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper.

9. 9

   Sprinkle tuna with salt and pepper.

10. 10

    Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in another heavy large skillet over medium-high heat.

11. 11

    Add tuna and cook until golden and just opaque in center, about 3 minutes per side.

12. 12

    Transfer tuna to platter.

13. 13

    Spoon sauce over tuna.

14. 14

    Garnish with basil sprigs.