Fresh Tuna BLT

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), plus some for drizzling
8 slices bacon or turkey bacon
2 avocados, pitted and peeled
1/2 lime, juiced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 fresh tuna steaks (about 4-6 ounces each), sliced across separating the tuna into 2 thin steaks
1 tablespoon (a palmful) chipotle powder
8 slices whole grain bread, toasted
1 head bibb or Boston lettuce, leaves torn from the core
2 vine-ripe tomatoes, sliced into 8 slices

1 bag fancy potato or tortilla chips

Yields: 4 servings

Preparation

Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat with 1 turn of the pan EVOO, about 1 tablespoon. Add the bacon and cook until crisp on both sides. Remove from the skillet to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Break the bacon slices in half and reserve. Let the skillet cool a bit and wipe it out with a paper towel for the tuna.

Place the avocados in a bowl along with the lime juice and some salt and pepper, smash until some what smooth with a fork, reserve.

Toast the bread slices under the broiler but keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn!

Preheat the skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the thin tuna steaks with the chipotle powder, drizzle a little EVOO over them and transfer to the skillet.

Cook on each side for 2-3 minutes or until it reaches desired doneness.

To assemble the sandwich, spread the avocado mash on a slice of bread. Top with a slice of tuna, 2 half-pieces of crispy bacon in an X, some lettuce, a slice of tomato, another piece of tuna, 2 more half-pieces of bacon, more lettuce and another slice of tomato.

Slather the last piece of bread with a little more of the avocado mixture and place it on top of the sandwich. Place a toothpick in each of the 4 corners of the sandwich then cut the bread into 4 triangles -- the toothpicks will help hold it together. Serve with chips alongside.