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

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

FAQs

What oil is best for searing 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 long does it take to sear ahi tuna? ›

Place the tuna steaks in the pan and sear for about 30 seconds to 1 1/2 minutes on each side.
  1. Timing will vary based on thickness, preference, and your burner.
  2. Estimated sear time on each side based on doneness: 30 seconds for very rare, 1 minute for medium rare, 1 ½ to 2 minutes for medium-well to well.
Aug 6, 2021

How does Gordon Ramsay cook ahi 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.

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.

What seasoning is good on tuna? ›

Best Organic Individual Spices for Making Tuna

Organic Dill Weed: Adds a fresh, tangy kick, perfect for tuna salads. Organic Garlic Powder: A universal flavor enhancer for a savory touch. Organic Paprika (Sweet or Smoked): For a subtle warmth and color, excellent in rubs. Use smoked paprika for a more grilled flavor.

Should I rinse ahi tuna before cooking? ›

(Any fish labeled sushi-grade has already been frozen for just this purpose.) So, please make that herb-crusted ahi tuna; just make sure you know where it came from, and for goodness' sake, skip the rinse.

Should ahi tuna sit out before cooking? ›

There is one important thing to keep in mind, however. And that's that tuna steaks, like all meat, need to sit out for a little bit before you get to cooking them. This isn't a step that you want to skip as it will affect the end result even more so than with beef or pork due to the short cooking time.

Should seared tuna be raw in the middle? ›

If you're wondering if tuna steak should be raw in the middle, the short answer is YES. A properly cooked tuna steak should be seared on the outside but raw on the inside.

Is ahi tuna high in mercury? ›

Bigeye and yellowfin, also known as ahi, are common in sushi. Both types, along with bluefin, are high in mercury and should be eaten infrequently, if at all. Most tuna are caught by purse seines or longlines, which have moderate-to-high bycatch of seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals.

How healthy is seared ahi tuna? ›

Ahi tuna is a delicious and nutritious seafood choice that can provide numerous health benefits. It's low in calories and fat, high in protein and essential nutrients, and rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Incorporating Ahi tuna into your diet can help improve heart health, boost brain function, and support strong bones.

Should tuna steak be cooked on high or low heat? ›

Tuna dries out quite quickly and turns crumbly, so it should be cooked very briefly over a high heat in a frying pan, on a griddle or over a barbecue; or cooked under oil (confit), sous vide or simmered in a sauce.

Should you let seared tuna rest? ›

Serving Tips

Unlike beef and other meats, you don't need to let your grilled tuna rest before you can enjoy it. Instead, you're free to slice into it right away. You can serve grilled yellowfin tuna – or any other type of tuna you choose – alone or with a sauce or salsa.

Can I sear grocery store tuna? ›

It is important to note that the inside of the tuna steaks will remain raw. The inside is not supposed to be fully cooked. As long as you find the highest quality piece of tuna from a reputable store and cook it the same day as buying it, you shouldn't have a problem.

What oils are best for searing fish? ›

Best Oil to Fry Fish. Thanks to its neutral flavor, affordable price, and high smoke point, canola oil is the most popular oil for frying fish. Peanut, cottonseed, and coconut oil are also great fish frying oils.

Is grapeseed oil good for searing tuna? ›

Tuna is a beautiful, lean protein and the grapeseed oil has a high flash point that will keep the steak from sticking and contribute to texture and flavor in the final cook.

Is tuna in olive oil better? ›

Tunas in olive oil are tasty, practical and versatile, but another key advantage is that they are also highly nutritious (of course, we're talking about high quality tuna).

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