Seared Ahi Tuna Recipe (2024)

This seared ahi tuna recipe is sashimi grade fish coated in sesame seeds, then briefly cooked to tender and flavorful perfection. Add a drizzle of sauce and some fresh herbs for a light and delicious dinner option.

When I’m in the mood for some fresh seafood, I turn to favorites such as grilled tilapia, seafood pasta, bacon wrapped scallops and this simple yet satisfying seared ahi tuna.

Seared Ahi Tuna Recipe (1)

I happen to love fresh fish, especially when seared ahi tuna is on the menu. This dish takes just minutes to prepare, but tastes like it came straight from a fancy restaurant.

Table of Contents

  • Seared Tuna Ingredients
  • How Do You Make Seared Ahi Tuna?
  • Tips For The Perfect Dish
  • Quick Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • What To Serve With Ahi Tuna
  • More Seafood Recipes
  • Seared Ahi Tuna Video
  • Love This Recipe?
  • Seared Ahi Tuna Recipe

Seared Tuna Ingredients

To make this dish, you will need ahi tuna steaks, black and white sesame seeds, salt, black pepper, vegetable oil, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and green onions or cilantro.

How Do You Make Seared Ahi Tuna?

Start by placing black and white sesame seeds on a plate and mixing the two together. Season your fish with salt and pepper to taste, then place the fish in the sesame seeds and press the seeds onto the outside of the fish to form a crust. Heat oil in a pan or skillet, then quickly sear the fish on both sides. Whisk together a simple sauce of soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce and sesame oil. Slice the tuna, then drizzle the sauce over the fish. Top with fresh herbs for added flavor, then serve and enjoy.

Seared Ahi Tuna Recipe (2)

Tips For The Perfect Dish

  • The key to this dish is to be very careful not to overcook the fish. Watch the clock carefully, as one minute of cooking time per side is typically sufficient.
  • You can eat seared ahi warm, at room temperature, or chilled. I recommend serving the fish within 8 hours of when it was seared.
  • I typically add a sprinkle of green onions and cilantro over my tuna. Other great toppings include sliced avocado or minced jalapeno.
  • You can also use this technique for other types of fish such as salmon or halibut. If you’re using a different type of fish, you’ll want to cook it all the way through.

Quick Tip

Look for tuna steaks that are similar in size and thickness so that they cook at the same rate.

Seared Ahi Tuna Recipe (3)

Recipe FAQs

Is it safe to eat seared ahi tuna?

It is safe to eat seared tuna, so long as you’ve specifically purchased tuna that is meant to be eaten raw or rare. This type of tuna is typically labeled as “sushi grade” or “sashimi grade” tuna. You may need to visit a fish market or an Asian grocery store to procure the appropriate type of ahi.

Do you need sushi grade tuna?

You need to use sushi-grade tuna for this recipe since the fish is just lightly cooked and is rare in the center. Sushi or sashimi grade tuna simply means that the tuna was processed in a way that makes it safe to eat raw. Do not attempt to make this recipe with tuna that is not sushi grade, unless you plan to cook it all the way through.

What does seared ahi taste like?

Seared ahi is a hearty fish with a mild flavor. It is almost meat-like in texture. It is a great starter fish for people who think they don’t like seafood, since the flavor is not strong or fishy.

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Seared Ahi Tuna Recipe (4)

What To Serve With Ahi Tuna

There are so many different ways to serve this dish! You can serve your tuna over mixed greens for a light lunch or appetizer. Pair your fish with yakitori skewers and shrimp tempura roll for a Japanese inspired meal. Serve your tuna over sushi rice with a side of Japanese cucumber salad, sauteed kale or grilled asparagus. Or arrange the slices over pan fried noodles for a heartier main course option.

Seared Ahi Tuna Recipe (5)

This recipe is my go-to for the days when I want an easy and healthy meal on the table in no time at all. It’s quick enough for a busy week night, yet elegant enough to serve to company!

More Seafood Recipes

Almond Crusted Salmon with Honey Garlic Sauce

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Ahi Tuna Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing

20 mins

Crab Salad Recipe

11 mins

Low Country Boil

30 mins

Seared Ahi Tuna Video

Love This Recipe?

Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

5 from 27 votes

Seared Ahi Tuna

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AuthorSara Welch

Seared Ahi Tuna Recipe (11)

This seared ahi tuna is sashimi grade fish coated in sesame seeds, then briefly cooked to tender and flavorful perfection. Add a drizzle of sauce and some fresh herbs for a light and delicious dinner option.

Time

Prep Time10 minutes minutes

Cook Time2 minutes minutes

Total Time12 minutes minutes

Course Main

Cuisine Asian

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ahi tuna steaks
  • 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons black sesame seeds
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons sliced green onions, chopped cilantro or a combination of the two

Instructions

  • Place the sesame seeds on a plate and stir to combine.

  • Season the tuna steaks with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Place each tuna steak on the plate of sesame seeds and press the seeds all over the fish.

  • Heat the oil in a large pan over high heat.

  • Add the tuna steaks to the pan. Cook for 30-60 seconds per side.

  • Remove the tuna from the pan. Let rest for 3 minutes then cut into slices.

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar and sesame oil.

  • Drizzle the sauce over the sliced tuna. Top with green onions or cilantro, then serve.

Notes

  1. You can eat seared ahi warm, at room temperature, or chilled. I recommend serving the fish within 8 hours of when it was seared.
  2. I typically add a sprinkle of green onions and cilantro over my tuna. Other great toppings include sliced avocado or minced jalapeno.
  3. Look for tuna steaks that are similar in size and thickness so that they cook at the same rate.

Nutrition

Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 258mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2475IU | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 2mg

Did you make this recipe?Tag @dinneratthezoo on Instagram and hashtag it #dinneratthezoo

Originally Posted June 14, 2023

CategoriesAsian Food Dinner Low Carb Seafood

Hello! I’m Sara!

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Seared Ahi Tuna Recipe (17)
Seared Ahi Tuna Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How is ahi tuna best cooked? ›

Heat about a tablespoon of oil in a saute pan on high until the oil is extremely hot and just about to smoke. Place the tuna steaks in the pan and sear for about 30 seconds to 1 1/2 minutes on each side.

How do you know when ahi tuna is done? ›

How do you know when tuna steaks are done? Tuna steaks should reach a minimum internal temperature of 125 degrees. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the thickest part of the tuna steak after grilling.

How do you cook ahi tuna without drying it out? ›

Brush the top of the steak with garlic-infused olive oil then sprinkle a pinch of salt and a pinch of black pepper. Place this side down on a hot grill (350 is PERFECT). While that side is searing brush the new top side with the oil and add the salt/pepper. After 90 seconds flip the Tuna steak.

What is the best oil to sear tuna in? ›

So get your pan as hot as you can, coat the cooking surfaces of the tuna steaks with a bit of oil with a high smoke point (corn, canola, peanut - not olive oil or walnut oil), then fry the tuna for as little time as you can get away with.

What kind of oil is best to sear tuna? ›

Peanut oil adds great flavor. The goal here is to get a nice golden crust on all sides without cooking the ahi tuna all the way through. HOT PAN is key. Basically, the pan needs to be hot enough to get the crust golden in 60-90 seconds, otherwise you'll likely overcook the inside of the fish.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook tuna? ›

just brush each piece of tuna with egg whites before you add the sesame seeds. add a few tablespoons of oil to a pan over medium heat. let that pan get hot. add the tuna, let it cook for a minute and flip and then cook for 1min more.

What pairs well with ahi tuna? ›

  • Roasted Green Beans with Walnuts. A discussion of what to serve tuna steaks would not be appropriate without mentioning green beans. ...
  • Wild Rice Fried Rice. ...
  • Cherry Tomato Salad. ...
  • Baby Bok Choy Stir Fry. ...
  • Simple & Succulent Edamame. ...
  • Korean BBQ Mushrooms. ...
  • 8. Japanese Mushroom Rice. ...
  • Blackened Green Beans.
Sep 28, 2023

Should tuna be room temperature before cooking? ›

So how long should tuna steaks be left out? At a minimum, you'll want to remove them from the refrigerator 20 minutes before you're going to toss them in the pan or on the grill. That's enough time for them to reach room temperature.

Can ahi tuna be pink in the middle? ›

Just like a beef steak, tuna steak can be served from extremely rare to well done. Consider cooking times depending on how you prefer your tuna to be served. The centre of the steak should still be pink – be careful not to overcook it or the fish will be dry.

Can you fully cook ahi tuna? ›

The trick, you'll find, is not to overcook the fish. Even if you generally like your food cooked well done, Ahi Tuna is a food you want to cook as little as possible. As it cooks, it very quickly hardens, so it's good to make sure the center is nice and red (or pink). Make sure your Ahi Tuna is safe to prepare rare.

Should ahi tuna sit out before cooking? ›

So how long should tuna steaks be left out? At a minimum, you'll want to remove them from the refrigerator 20 minutes before you're going to toss them in the pan or on the grill. That's enough time for them to reach room temperature.

How is tuna steak supposed to be cooked? ›

Instructions
  1. Allow the tuna steak to come to room temperature by letting it stand for at least 20 minutes.
  2. Pat the tuna dry. ...
  3. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat.
  4. Add the tuna steak and cook 1 to 2 minutes per side, until lightly browned on the outside but still rare on the inside. ...
  5. Cool for 2 minutes.
Feb 27, 2023

Are you supposed to wash ahi tuna? ›

Done. The trick, you'll find, is not to overcook the fish. Even if you generally like your food cooked well done, Ahi Tuna is a food you want to cook as little as possible. As it cooks, it very quickly hardens, so it's good to make sure the center is nice and red (or pink).

Do you use oil when searing tuna? ›

To sear tuna, heat 1-2 tbsp of oil in a pan over medium-high heat until it starts to shimmer. Lightly season the tuna steak with salt and pepper on each side, then carefully place the steak in the hot pan. Sear the tuna on each side for 1-2 minutes, then remove it from the pan and serve.

Should tuna be cold before searing? ›

As noted above, keeping your fish chilled until the last moment is an important safety step, but beyond that, it's also thermally advantageous. Cold tuna presents a greater barrier to heat transfer than does warm tuna, making overcooking less likely. To get a quality sear, you need high heat.

How many minutes do you sear tuna? ›

Your pan should be very, very hot. Put in the tuna and what you want to do is sear it so that it toasts, fries and browns (about 45 to 60 seconds on each side). Once cooked, I like to rip the steaks in half and serve with salad and chips or boiled potatoes and a big wedge of lemon.

Should tuna be room temp before searing? ›

If you're wondering why tuna steaks would need to get to room temperature before cooking, it's very simple. As with other meats, even on high heat a cold center won't warm in the time that it takes to sear the outside, particularly if you prefer to serve your tuna steaks rare.

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