Pan-Seared Tuna Steaks with Capers and Oregano

• Recipe by Jacques Pépin

In early summer, as tuna migrate past Sicily, fishermen harvest them in a centuries-old ritual called the mattanza. After buying tuna in the Sicilian town of Messina, Jacques Pépin prepared seared steaks with a red-wine sauce, oregano and briny capers.

Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup capers, drained
2. 2 tablespoons chopped oregano
3. 1 small shallot, minced
4. 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
5. Salt and freshly ground pepper
6. Four 6-ounce, 3/4-inch-thick tuna steaks
7. 4 anchovy fillets, chopped
8. 1 cup dry red wine
9. 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 2 pieces
10. 4 cups packed baby arugula

Directions

1. In a bowl, mix the capers with the oregano, shallot and 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
2. In a skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil until shimmering. Season the steaks with salt and pepper; add to the skillet and cook over high heat, turning once, until browned and medium-rare, about 4 minutes. Transfer the steaks to a platter.
3. Add the anchovies to the skillet and cook over moderate heat, mashing with a fork until dissolved, about 1 minute. Add the wine and boil until reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and swirl in the butter, 1 piece at a time, until blended and smooth. Season the red wine sauce with salt and pepper.
4. In a medium bowl, drizzle the arugula with olive oil and season with salt. Mound the arugula alongside the tuna. Pour the red wine sauce around the tuna steaks, top them with the caper mixture and serve.