Dinner This Week: Grilled Tuna

For Gas-Grilled Tuna Steaks  (find the charcoal version here) with a smoky char and a moist interior, we coat the fish in a red wine vinegar and mustard vinaigrette prior to grilling. Honey in the vinaigrette promotes browning, and oil keeps the fish moist. Napa Cabbage Slaw offers a more tender, delicate texture and a sweeter flavor than traditional green cabbage slaw. To avoid a bland, watered-down dish, we make a potent dressing with a high ratio of vinegar to oil. After tossing the cabbage with the dressing and letting it sit for about 5 minutes, moisture from the cabbage dilutes the dressing slightly, so the slaw reaches an ideal level of bright acidity.

Printable Shopping Lists: Grilled Tuna Steaks and Napa Cabbage Slaw with Carrots and Sesame

The intense heat of the broiler gives our Broiled Pork Tenderloin the well-browned exterior and rosy-pink, juicy center usually produced by roasting but in a fraction of the time. We cook the pork in a disposable aluminum pan to reflect the radiant heat of the broiler toward the meat, ensuring that the interior doesn’t overcook by the time deep browning occurs. For our Pan-Steamed Asparagus with Mint and Almonds, we steam the asparagus in a small amount of water in a covered skillet to which we also add butter, salt, and garlic. We then simmer until the water evaporates, leaving the asparagus crisp-tender. A final toss with sherry vinegar, fresh mint, and smoked paprika adds complexity.

Printable Shopping Lists: Broiled Pork Tenderloin and Pan-Steamed Asparagus with Mint and Almonds

To get the requisite tingly, spicy flavor in our Kung Pao Chicken, we use toasted crushed Sichuan peppercorns and arbol chiles that we halve lengthwise to expose their interiors and maximize the flavor they add. We cover the skillet to facilitate quick and even cooking of diced chicken thighs. Finally, we add celery for crisp freshness and a final addition of scallions and toasted peanuts for all-important crunch. Sautéed Baby Bok Choy is lightly steamed to soften the stems before being quickly sautéed. A mixture of oyster sauce and fresh chopped ginger forms the base of a salty and mildly spicy sauce.

Printable Shopping Lists: Kung Pao Chicken and Sautéed Baby Bok Choy with Oyster Sauce and Ginger

To view more quick weeknight dinner ideas, check out the rest of the Dinner This Week series.

• Dinner This Week: Pasta with Broccoli Rabe
• Dinner This Week: Sesame-Crusted Salmon
• Dinner This Week: Linguine with Seafood
• Dinner This Week: Greek-Style Pita Sandwiches
• Dinner This Week: Pork Lettuce Wraps