Yellowfin (Ahi) Tuna #1

Line caught, Hawaii

This week, we're featuring ahi tuna #1!  The weather may be cooling down, but there's no reason to say goodbye to fresh, delicious tuna! Whether you sear it, grill it, or enjoy it as poke, ahi tuna is sure to brighten up your dinner table!

The "#1" indicates that THIS TUNA IS SUSHI-GRADE! Get out your bamboo mats and sharpen your knives. Ahi is a Hawaiian name meaning "fire." Its English name refers to its bright yellow dorsal fin, but it also has yellow side stripes. Its flesh is red and it is mild and meaty. Its higher fat content makes it more flavorful than albacore.

We relish ahi in poke, but it is also great lightly seared, sautéed, or grilled and served on a bed of lettuce, tomatoes, and avocados. Seafood Watch rates it a "Good Alternative." Higher mercury level. Kosher.

-- Salade Niçoise with Fresh Tuna (Jacques Pepin / The New York Times)

-- Spicy Tuna Hand Roll (Saveur magazine)