Seared Ahi Tuna Steaks create a delightful culinary experience that pairs beautifully with the gripping novel 'The Night Watchman' by Louise Erdrich. The simplicity and elegance of the tuna dish mirror Erdrich's masterful storytelling, which is both poignant and rooted in rich cultural history. Complementing this pair, a Wasabi Martini provides a touch of heat and sophistication, enhancing the meal with its unique flavor profile that echoes the novel's tension and depth. Together, they offer an immersive evening of gastronomic and literary exploration.
Ingredients
- 2 ahi tuna steaks (about 6 oz each)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds (white or black, or a mix)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh lime wedges (for serving)
- Optional garnish: sliced green onions, avocado slices, or pickled ginger
Instructions
- Marinate the Tuna: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, grated ginger, and minced garlic. Place the tuna steaks in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over them, making sure they are well coated. Marinate for at least 15 minutes and up to 30 minutes.
- Prepare the Sesame Crust: Spread the sesame seeds on a plate. Remove the tuna steaks from the marinade, letting the excess drip off, and press them into the sesame seeds, coating both sides evenly.
- Sear the Tuna: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the tuna steaks. Sear the tuna for about 1-2 minutes on each side, depending on your desired level of doneness. The outside should have a nice crust while the inside remains rare.
- Season and Serve: Remove the tuna steaks from the skillet and let them rest for a minute. Slice the tuna steaks into 1/4-inch thick slices and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish and Enjoy: Serve the seared ahi tuna with fresh lime wedges and optional garnishes like sliced green onions, avocado slices, or pickled ginger.
The Night Watchman
Based on the extraordinary life of National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich's grandfather, 'The Night Watchman' follows Thomas Wazhushk, a night watchman at a jewel bearing plant. As the United States government seeks to revoke the treaties protecting Native American lands, Thomas rallies the people to defend their rights. Set in 1953, the book weaves together historical fiction and Erdrich's rich storytelling to illuminate the struggles of a community.
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 use the setting to enhance the story?
- What role do dreams play in the novel?
- Discuss the portrayal of gender roles within the Native American community.
- How does the novel address the theme of identity?
- What significance does the title 'The Night Watchman' hold?
- How are familial relationships depicted in the book?
- Discuss the impact of government oppression on the characters.
- How does Erdrich balance personal and political storylines?
- What does the novel reveal about resistance and activism?
- How do the supporting characters contribute to the main narrative?
Authors:
Louise Erdrich
ISBN: 0062671189
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published Date: 2020-03-03
Wasabi Martini
The Wasabi Martini offers a bold yet refined cocktail choice, perfectly suited to accompany a quiet dinner or to complement a dish as captivating as Seared Ahi Tuna Steaks. The unique spiciness from wasabi paste adds a surprising kick that harmonizes with the cool, smooth notes of dry vermouth and vodka.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
- 1/4 teaspoon wasabi paste
- Ice cubes
- Garnish: lemon twist or a slice of cucumber
Instructions
- Combine the vodka, dry vermouth, and wasabi paste in a cocktail shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously until well-chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist or a slice of cucumber.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!