Seared Ahi Tuna

Marinate ahi tuna steaks, also known as yellowfin tuna, in sesame oil, soy sauce, and flavorful seasonings. A quick pan sear on both sides, and dinner is ready.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated April 28, 2022
Elise Bauer

After completing graduate school in the late 80s, I spent a year studying martial arts at Kyoto University in Japan.

The school cafeteria served many things that one would never encounter in the states (natto spaghetti, for example), but one thing they did serve that I couldn't get enough of was seared ahi tuna, prepared fresh to order.

It was usually served with white rice, a little shoyu, some radish sprouts, a few slivers of nori, and some toasted sesame seeds. One ample serving may have cost as much as 200 yen (~$2) but I think it was probably less.

My Own Ahi Tuna Steak Recipe

Inspired by a recipe for seared ahi in the South Beach Diet Cookbook, I found some gorgeous ahi tuna steaks at Whole Foods. The South Beach recipe called for the ahi tuna steaks to be seared with peppercorns, but I was looking for a more Asian twist, so I made up my own marinade with tamari, sesame oil, and ginger.

A plate of ahi tuna served over fennel salad.
Lori Rice

The Best Ahi Tuna to Buy

Ahi tuna is also known as yellowfin tuna. To make seared ahi, you need to start with very fresh, sushi-grade ahi, as you will only be lightly searing the outside, leaving the inside raw. Not even rare, but raw. The freshness and the quality of the fish make a huge difference with this dish. So, don't even attempt it with a lower grade of fish.

A plate of ahi tuna served over fennel salad.
Lori Rice

Is It Safe To Eat the Leftovers?

You can safely eat the fish the next day. You can refrigerate leftover raw fish in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.

It's best not to freeze leftovers, because it'll change the texture.

Swaps and Substitutions

So many of you have made this recipe over the years (thank you!) and added your own spins. Here are a few of our favorites.

  • Add something spicy to the marinade, like sambal oelek, gochujang, wasabi, or even hot chili oil.
  • Sprinkle the tuna steaks with white sesame seeds for some crunch.
  • Serve with aioli (garlic-infused mayonnaise) drizzled over top.
  • Add some pickled onions as garnish.
  • Grill your steaks instead of searing!

Pro Tip: Make Extra Marinade for Dipping

Several of you suggested this over the years, and we agree! Make some extra marinade, set it aside before you add the fish, and then serve it as a dipping sauce with the seared tuna.

What to Serve with Your Ahi Tuna:

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Seared Ahi Tuna

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 5 mins
Marinating 60 mins
Total Time 75 mins
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 (6 to 8 ounce) ahi tuna steaks (3/4 inch thick)

For the marinade:

  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or gluten-free tamari)

  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 1 scallion, thinly sliced (a few slices reserved for garnish)

  • 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

Method

  1. Marinate the tuna steaks:

    Mix the marinade ingredients together and coat the tuna steaks with the marinade, cover tightly, and refrigerate for at least an hour.

    Marinating tuna steaks in a glass dish to make an ahi tuna steak recipe.
    Lori Rice
  2. Sear the tuna:

    Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet, preferably cast-iron, over medium-high to high heat. When the pan is hot, remove the tuna steaks from the marinade and sear them for a minute to a minute and a half on each side (even a little longer if you want the tuna less rare than pictured).

    A skillet with seared ahi tuna cooking inside.
    Lori Rice
  3. Slice and serve:

    Remove from pan and slice into 1/4-inch thick slices. Sprinkle with a few slices of scallion.

    Serve plain, with white rice, or over lettuce or thinly sliced cabbage or fennel. Shown served over sliced fennel salad.

    A cutting board with ahi tuna sliced on it for an ahi tuna recipe.
    Lori Rice
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
431 Calories
15g Fat
3g Carbs
68g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 431
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 2g 12%
Cholesterol 107mg 36%
Sodium 1003mg 44%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 68g
Vitamin C 3mg 14%
Calcium 23mg 2%
Iron 2mg 14%
Potassium 1308mg 28%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.