Pair your Seared Ahi Tuna Steaks with "The Night Watchman" for an engaging evening. The nuanced flavors of this dish, with its delicate balance of seared outside and rare inside, complement the intricate narrative of resilience found in Louise Erdrich's novel. Sip on a French 75, a classic, elegant cocktail that enhances the sophisticated dining experience, providing a refreshing citrus note that ties the meal together. Together, these elements create a harmonious blend of taste and storytelling, perfect for a relaxing evening at home.
Ingredients
- 2 ahi tuna steaks (about 6 ounces each)
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil (or olive oil)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (white or black, or a mix)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the tuna: Pat the tuna steaks dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Marinate the tuna: In a shallow dish, combine the soy sauce and fresh lemon juice. Place the tuna steaks in the marinade, turning to coat evenly. Let them marinate for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally.
- Coat with sesame seeds: Remove the tuna steaks from the marinade and pat them dry. Sprinkle sesame seeds evenly over both sides of the tuna steaks, pressing gently to adhere.
- Heat the skillet: Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet or cast-iron pan over high heat until the oil is shimmering and hot.
- Sear the tuna: Carefully place the tuna steaks in the hot skillet. Sear for about 1-2 minutes on each side for rare, or 2-3 minutes for medium-rare, depending on your preference. The tuna should have a nice crust on the outside while remaining pink in the center.
- Rest and slice: Remove the tuna steaks from the skillet and let them rest for a minute. Slice the steaks against the grain into thin slices.
- Serve: Arrange the seared tuna slices on a serving platter. Garnish with sliced green onions and chopped fresh cilantro or parsley.
The Night Watchman
Based on the life of the author's grandfather, a Night Watchman for a North Dakota factory, this novel chronicles the struggles of Native Americans in the 1950s as they fight against the US government's relocation efforts.
WINNER OF THE 2021 PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WASHINGTON POST, NPR, CBS SUNDAY MORNING, KIRKUS, CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Based on the extraordinary life of National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich’s grandfather who worked as a night watchman and carried the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington, D.C., this powerful novel explores themes of love and death with lightness and gravity and unfolds with the elegant prose, sly humor, and depth of feeling of a master craftsman. Thomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at the jewel bearing plant, the first factory located near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota. He is also a Chippewa Council member who is trying to understand the consequences of a new “emancipation” bill on its way to the floor of the United States Congress. It is 1953 and he and the other council members know the bill isn’t about freedom; Congress is fed up with Indians. The bill is a “termination” that threatens the rights of Native Americans to their land and their very identity. How can the government abandon treaties made in good faith with Native Americans “for as long as the grasses shall grow, and the rivers run”? Since graduating high school, Pixie Paranteau has insisted that everyone call her Patrice. Unlike most of the girls on the reservation, Patrice, the class valedictorian, has no desire to wear herself down with a husband and kids. She makes jewel bearings at the plant, a job that barely pays her enough to support her mother and brother. Patrice’s shameful alcoholic father returns home sporadically to terrorize his wife and children and bully her for money. But Patrice needs every penny to follow her beloved older sister, Vera, who moved to the big city of Minneapolis. Vera may have disappeared; she hasn’t been in touch in months, and is rumored to have had a baby. Determined to find Vera and her child, Patrice makes a fateful trip to Minnesota that introduces her to unexpected forms of exploitation and violence, and endangers her life. Thomas and Patrice live in this impoverished reservation community along with young Chippewa boxer Wood Mountain and his mother Juggie Blue, her niece and Patrice’s best friend Valentine, and Stack Barnes, the white high school math teacher and boxing coach who is hopelessly in love with Patrice. In the Night Watchman, Louise Erdrich creates a fictional world populated with memorable characters who are forced to grapple with the worst and best impulses of human nature. Illuminating the loves and lives, the desires and ambitions of these characters with compassion, wit, and intelligence, The Night Watchman is a majestic work of fiction from this revered cultural treasure.
Discussion Questions
- How does Erdrich portray the tension between traditional Native American life and modern influences?
- In what ways do the characters resist assimilation, and how is this portrayed in the novel?
- What role does the setting play in reflecting the themes of the story?
- Discuss the significance of dreams and visions in the novel.
- How does Patrice's story interconnect with Thomas's mission against termination policy?
- Analyze the role of women in the community as depicted in the novel.
- What aspects of the novel resonate with current issues in Native American communities?
- Discuss the historical context and how Erdrich integrates real political issues with personal stories.
- How do the lyrical prose and detailed descriptions enhance the impact of the narrative?
- What is the role of storytelling and oral tradition in "The Night Watchman"?
Authors:
Louise Erdrich
ISBN: 0062671189
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published Date: 2020-03-03
French 75
The French 75 is a refreshing cocktail that combines gin, champagne, lemon juice, and sugar for a bubbly, citrusy delight. Named after the powerful WWI French 75mm field gun, it's an elegant drink perfect for special occasions.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- Champagne, to top
- Lemon twist, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well and strain into a champagne flute.
- Top with chilled champagne.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.