Fast & Easy Seared Tuna (Ahi or Yellowfin Tuna) (2024)

Learn the secret to making perfectly Seared Tuna with a Sesame Seed Crust in just 10 minutes flat. A healthy, delicious ahi tuna recipe that is flavorful and easy to make. Video.

Back when I was a caterer, we made this Seared Tuna recipe so often, that I almost couldn’t bring myself to make it again for a very long time. But a good five years have passed now, and the other day I got a hankering for it, so I thought I’d share! It’s one of those recipes that seems fancy, but honestly, it couldn’t be any simpler, and the best part is that it is ridiculously fast! If you love our Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl, you will love this!

Here we are pairing it with a cool and crunchy Asian Cucumber Salad and Seasoned Japanese Rice with Furikake, a light and refreshing summer meal.

Seared Tuna | 60-sec Video

Best tuna to use:

Whenever you serve Ahi Tuna rare, make sure to use “sushi-grade” tuna. My favorite? Look for Saku Tuna.

What is Saku Tuna?

Ahi tuna or yellowfin tuna, also known as saku tuna, is commonly used to make sushi. Suku means “block” and it is typically a block of boneless, skinless, frozen, vacuum-packed yellowfin tuna.

Flash-freezing tuna kills any harmful bacteria, making it very safe to eat. Yes, of course, you can also use fresh ahi tuna if you trust your source or live close to where it is caught. We used Saku Tuna in our catering business and never had a problem.

Where to get Saku Tuna?

• If your grocery store makes sushi in-house, they likely have Saku tuna- just ask if you can buy a block. Locally, I purchase it at Huckleberries from the Sushi Department.
• Purchase from a Sushi Restaurant. They are usually very happy to sell a block of frozen Saku Tuna.
• Order online. This company offers frozen Saku Tuna Block.

How to Sear Ahi or Yellowfin Tuna

Step One:Thaw the tuna (either in a bowl of cold water with plastic on, or overnight in the fridge), and pat it dry. Coat in soy sauce or GFliquid aminos.

Step Two: Make the sesame spice crust.

The Sesame Crust is a blend of sesame seeds, granulated garlic or onion powder, dried herbs (thyme or Italian seasoning), saltand pepper and sugar.

Sugar helps get the crust nice and golden, in a shorter amount of time which is imperative here, to prevent overcooking the fish.

Step Three:Coat the Ahi Tuna in the sesame seed spice, pressing it into the flesh and coating all sides generously. The soy sauce helps it stick.

Step Four: Heat up a skillet over medium-high heat. This is KEY. You want the skillet very veryHOT 🔥. Turn your fan on, and have a spatter guard handy, or use a lid to partially cover. When the skillet is HOT, add a high heat oil-bothavocado oiland peanut oil works well here. Peanut oil adds great flavor.

Step Five: Carefully place the ahi in the pan- don’t throw it in, it will splatter, carefully lay it in the oil. Press it down into the skillet with a metal spatula and sear for about 45-60 seconds. If the seeds are popping use a splatter guard. Lift one side and check to see that the crust is golden- if not, your pan is not hot enough, so turn the heat up. 🔥

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. Carefully turn it over, press down, sear for 60-90 seconds. Then sear the two long edges, using a pair of tongs to hold it up.

Step Six:Place the seared ahi on a cutting board, and thinly slice using a very sharp knife. The edges will be crispy and the inside, rare. At this point, you could even refrigerate the ahi block whole, and serve in slices, and serve it later cold. Seared Tuna is good hot or cold!

And there you have it- a fast, flavorful protein that takes about 10 minutes time.

The flavorful sesame crust gives the Seared Tuna just enough flavor, without overpowering it.

3 Expert tips for the BEST Seared Ahi Tuna:

• Use sushi-grade, Saku Tuna Block for nice uniform slices.
• Add a little sugar to the spice mix, which will carmelize in the pan and give a golden crust, in a shorter amount of time.
• Use a cast iron skillet, and make sure it is HOT HOT HOT 🔥.

What to serve with Seared Ahi Tuna:

• Asian Cucumber Salad
• Seasoned Japanese Rice with Furikake
• Easy Crunchy Asian Slaw
• Farmers Market Fried Rice
• Miso Mushroom Bowl
• Kyoto Style Sweet Potatoes with Miso, Ginger and Scallions
• Zen Noodle Bowl
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Ginger
• Use it in thisSpicy Miso Portobello Mushroom Burgerinstead of the mushroom
• Over a Spinach Salad with thisMiso Mushroom Dressing.

Hope you give this Seared Ahi Tuna a try- it’s healthy and light and full of flavor! Happy weekend.

xoxo

Sylvia

More Favorite Tuna recipes!

• Ahi Poke Bowl Recipe
• How to make a Sushi Burrito
• Seared Ahi Tuna with Moroccan Lentils

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