Seared tuna steaks are a simple and delicious dish that only takes a few minutes to make. You can serve them sliced thinly with soy sauce as an appetizer, on a salad, or as a main course along with steamed rice or vegetables.
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Why This Recipe Works
Seared tuna steaks make a delicious meal in just minutes. The key is choosing the best tuna steaks and properly cooking them for a restaurant-quality meal at home. With my simple instructions and tips, you can make this dish perfectly every time!
What to Look for When Buying Tuna Steaks
Tuna steaks are sold in most grocery stores as ahi or yellowfin tuna. You will sometimes see them marketed as sushi grade as well, although there is no official sushi grade designation.
Tuna is actually graded using numbers with grade 1 being the highest. It's graded by taking a core sample and is based on appearance, color, size, texture, and fattiness.
When buying your tuna, look for a bright reddish-pink color and avoid any greyish, dull-looking pieces. Typically tuna is served cooked rare, so if it doesn't look like something you'd want to eat rare, then it's probably best to keep looking.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Heat a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. When it's hot, add around 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan.
- Season the tuna with salt and pepper.
- When the oil just begins to smoke, add the tuna and cook for around 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side, depending on your preference for doneness. It should be lightly browned on the top and bottom but still raw in the middle. You can quickly sear the edges as well if you'd like.
How to Serve Seared Tuna
After cooking let the tuna rest for a few minutes before serving. You can serve the tuna steak whole, but you will often see them sliced very thinly and spread slightly to highlight the beautiful color of the fish.
Just make thin slices across the tuna steak and lay the first slice flat and then slightly overlap them one after the other. Serve along with a small bowl or ramekin of soy sauce.
If you have mirin on hand, try adding a teaspoon to around 2 tablespoons of soy sauce for a slightly sweet and savory dipping sauce.
Other Ways to Serve Tuna
- Tuna is also great on top of a salad such as this Asian chopped salad.
- Try it in a poke bowl with rice or spring mix and your favorite toppings.
- Whole seared tuna steaks are delicious with a side of steamed rice or vegetables.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eating any raw or undercooked seafood can pose a risk. It is important to use fresh, high-quality tuna that has been properly handled and stored.
Tuna is very lean and can dry out quickly when overcooked. Serving tuna rare helps ensure tender flavorful results.
More Seafood Recipes
📖 Recipe
Seared Tuna
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs Tuna Steaks
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat oil in pan over medium-high heat.
- Season tuna with salt and pepper then sprinkle on sesame seeds.
- Sear for around 1 minute per side for rare.
Nutrition
* All nutrition information we provide are estimates based on third party calculators. We encourage you to calculate these on your own for accurate results.
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