Seared Ahi Tuna with recent lime, mandarin orange juice, ginger, garlic, soy, and sesame is ideal for summer time meals. This spectacular restaurant-style dish is simple—and quick—to drag off at dwelling!
Excellent, Restaurant-style Seared Ahi Tuna
You’ve in all probability had seared ahi tuna at your favourite restaurant, however not too long ago we found it’s simpler than you assume to make—and really fast!
The skin is cooked and the within remains to be uncooked, preserving the tuna steaks’ taste and texture. Ahi is finest when served on the uncommon facet (totally cooked, it may be dry).
We created a dressing that’s bursting with recent flavors that basically complement the fish. We additionally use a mixture of black and white sesame seeds, which makes for a aromatic coating and crunch, in addition to a hanging look.
Salting the tuna earlier than searing it’s a key seasoning step that you just shouldn’t skip. The sauce drizzled excessive of the seared tuna provides it that closing explosion of taste, however the salt beneath ensures that the flavors of the sauce actually pop. A small squeeze of lime offers a pleasant recent acidic distinction, whereas sliced avocado provides the dish richness.
Why Tuna Is Higher Uncommon
Ahí tuna is finest loved uncommon with a barely cool, tender heart.
- Uncommon tuna is tender like sushi.
- Uncommon tuna absorbs the flavorful sauce a lot better than totally cooked tuna.
- The distinction of the uncommon heart and the seared sesame crust is scrumptious!
- Nicely finished tuna is just like nicely finished beef steak and may be robust and dry. It’s additionally a lot tougher to slice (it would break aside!)
Eating places serving uncooked fish should present a written client advisory, stating that consuming uncooked or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs might improve the danger of foodborne sickness. Preserve the identical in thoughts if you find yourself making and consuming uncommon or uncooked tuna at dwelling!
Totally different Forms of Tuna
Ahi tuna is yellowfin tuna, and it’s the commonest kind you see in sushi eating places and poke spots. That’s what we’re utilizing on this recipe, as it’s most generally accessible. Let’s discuss the commonest varieties of tuna we eat.
Yellowfin tuna: Yellowfin tuna thrive in hotter, extra shallow tropical and subtropical waters. The fish max out at round 450 kilos, and the meat could be very lean. Typically, that is what you’re shopping for in the event you’re on the grocery retailer or native fishmonger in search of tuna steaks.
Bigeye tuna: These fish are just like yellowfin. They’ve darker flesh and barely extra fats than yellowfin, and are usually bigger. You too can use bigeye tuna on this recipe! Each yellowfin and bigeye could also be known as “ahi,” a Hawaiian phrase used interchangeably for each species of fish.
Bluefin tuna: These fish choose cooler, extra temperate situations in each the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Bluefin tuna has a richer, fattier style, and are extra considerably costly and uncommon. (Chilly water = extra fats shops!) Bluefins can exceed 1000 kilos! Prized bluefin tuna apparently haven’t any limits in terms of value. Earlier this yr, a bluefin tuna roughly the scale (and weight!) of a bike bought for $1.3 million at a Tokyo fish market. It’s no marvel, given a small sashimi slice can set you again anyplace from $7-$16 relying on the reduce.
Then there’s albacore tuna (agency white fish present in “stable white” tuna cans) and skipjack tuna (smaller fish with a stronger taste, utilized in chunk mild canned tuna).
The place to Purchase Ahi Tuna
Fortunately, you don’t need to lay our a fortune in Tokyo to get your palms on ahi tuna. You will discover it in high quality grocery shops frozen or at your native fishmonger. It’s all the time bought in fillets or steaks and is normally flash frozen earlier than reaching retail fish counters.
Search for ahi tuna that’s designated as “sushi grade.” Whereas “sushi grade” isn’t an official or regulated time period, it does point out that the retailer is saying that the piece of fish is protected to devour uncooked.
Just lately I had the privilege of touring to Panama with some family and friends to expertise offshore fishing for yellowfin tuna. We caught our fair proportion of fish! A few of them had been nearly as tall as us! We introduced filets in a cooler again dwelling on the airplane, so our household was fortunate sufficient to take pleasure in my very own fresh-caught ahi tuna in our dwelling kitchen!
Impressed by the journey and the methods the boat and lodge cooks ready our catch, I devised this recipe with loads of recent flavors from mandarin oranges, lime, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and avocado!
In the event you haven’t tried making seared ahi tuna at dwelling but, it’s essential to attempt our recipe!

Seared Ahi Tuna Recipe Directions
Preserve the tuna chilly within the fridge proper up till you’re able to prepare dinner.
Squeeze the recent mandarin orange juice and pulp right into a bowl, or peel and chop, utilizing the facet of a broad knife to scoop up the fruit and juices right into a bowl. Add the garlic, ginger, white portion of the scallion, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Combine nicely and put aside with the inexperienced components of the chopped scallion.


In your serving plate(s), fan out the sliced avocado and squeeze a little bit lime juice excessive in order that they don’t flip brown. Place one other lime wedge on the facet of the plate for serving. You are able to do this on one family-style plate or particular person plates like we did.
Evenly rub each side of the tuna filets with oil and salt. Coat either side with sesame seeds. Optionally, you too can coat the edges of the filets in order that they’re completely lined.


Warmth a forged iron or carbon metal skillet till flippantly smoking, and coat the pan in oil. It ought to be VERY HOT. Gently lay the tuna steaks within the pan, with out disturbing them. Sear for 30 to 60 seconds either side (shorter for uncommon tuna, longer for medium uncommon).


Switch the fish to a reducing board, and let it relaxation for two minutes earlier than slicing. Use a really sharp knife to slice the tuna at a slight angle into ½-inch slices. Place the sliced tuna over the sliced avocado.
Spoon the sauce over the tuna, and prime with the chopped scallion greens and a pinch of flaky salt if utilizing. Serve instantly, and squeeze further lime juice excessive if desired!


Seared Ahi Tuna
We serve our seared ahi tuna with a sesame crust and vibrant dressing of recent lime, mandarin orange juice, ginger, garlic, and soy. This spectacular restaurant-style dish is simple to drag off at dwelling!

serves: 4
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook dinner: 5 minutes
Complete: 25 minutes
Directions
-
Preserve the tuna chilly within the fridge proper up till you’re able to prepare dinner.
-
Squeeze the recent mandarin orange juice and pulp right into a bowl, or peel and chop, utilizing the facet of a broad knife to scoop up the fruit and juices right into a bowl. Add the garlic, ginger, white portion of the scallion, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Combine nicely and put aside with the inexperienced components of the chopped scallion.
-
In your serving plate(s), fan out the sliced avocado and squeeze a little bit lime juice excessive in order that they don’t flip brown. Place one other lime wedge on the facet of the plate for serving. You are able to do this on one family-style plate or particular person plates like we did.
-
Evenly rub the salt on each side of the tuna filets. Coat either side with sesame seeds. Optionally, you too can coat the edges of the filets in order that they’re completely lined.
-
Warmth a forged iron or carbon metal skillet till flippantly smoking, and coat the pan in oil. It ought to be VERY HOT. Gently lay the tuna steaks within the pan, with out disturbing them. Sear for 30 to 60 seconds either side (shorter for uncommon tuna, longer for medium uncommon).
-
Switch the fish to a reducing board, and let it relaxation for two minutes earlier than slicing. Use a really sharp knife to slice the tuna at a slight angle into ½-inch slices. Place the sliced tuna over the sliced avocado.
-
Spoon the sauce over the tuna, and prime with the chopped scallion greens and a pinch of flaky salt if utilizing. Serve instantly, and squeeze further lime juice excessive if desired!
Ideas & Notes:
This recipes serves 4 as an appetizer, or 2 as a important course! Vitamin info is for appetizer portion.
diet information
Energy: 324kcal (16%) Carbohydrates: 15g (5%) Protein: 23g (46%) Fats: 20g (31%) Saturated Fats: 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fats: 5g Monounsaturated Fats: 10g Trans Fats: 0.01g Ldl cholesterol: 32mg (11%) Sodium: 400mg (17%) Potassium: 583mg (17%) Fiber: 5g (20%) Sugar: 7g (8%) Vitamin A: 1969IU (39%) Vitamin C: 20mg (24%) Calcium: 108mg (11%) Iron: 3mg (17%)
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