Back to recipe

Chef critique

Spanish Grilled Tuna with Smoky Corn Salad

The recipe features a great combination of summery ingredients and excellent step-by-step ingredient tracking. However, cooking the tuna to 145°F will result in a dry, overcooked piece of fish, and the salad dressing is unbalanced with too much acid and not enough salt.

Score: 6/10

Suggested fixes

  • Change the tuna cooking instructions to sear for 1-2 minutes per side for medium-rare, or explicitly note that cooking to 145°F will yield well-done fish.
  • Balance the dressing by either reducing the lemon juice to 1 tablespoon or increasing the olive oil used in the salad to 2-3 tablespoons.
  • Whisk the salad's portion of olive oil directly into the lemon juice and vinegar in Step 2.
  • Increase the total kosher salt by 1/4 teaspoon and add it to the dressing in Step 2 to properly season the fresh vegetables.
  • Update the cost estimate to $22–$25 to accurately reflect the listed ingredient prices.

Issues

  • high / cookability: Cooking tuna steaks to an internal temperature of 145°F and for 3-4 minutes per side will result in dry, well-done fish. Tuna is typically seared for 1-2 minutes per side and served rare or medium-rare (around 115°F-125°F).
  • medium / flavor: The salad dressing contains 3 tablespoons of acid (2 tbsp lemon juice + 1 tbsp sherry vinegar) but only effectively mixes with 1 tablespoon of olive oil added in Step 5. This 3:1 acid-to-oil ratio will make the salad overly tart and sharp.
  • medium / flavor: There is no salt added to the dressing or the fresh vegetables (tomatoes, onions) in Step 5. The only salt used is on the tuna and the grilled vegetables, which will leave the fresh components of the salad tasting under-seasoned.
  • low / clarity: The 1 tablespoon of olive oil meant for the salad is added at the end in Step 5. It would be better whisked into the lemon juice and vinegar in Step 2 to create a proper emulsion.
  • low / cost: The sum of the listed ingredient prices is $22.19, which exceeds the provided cost estimate of $16–$20.

Strengths

  • Excellent adherence to matching ingredient quantities between the list and the instructions.
  • The preparation step is comprehensive and sets the cook up for success before active cooking begins.
  • Flavor profile is bright, fresh, and well-suited for a summer meal.