Piquant, sesame crusted, pan seared Ahi tuna served over a bed of crisp zucchini noodles loaded with fresh veggies, bright herbs, and finished with a smooth Asian flavored dressing. Ready, from prep to finish, in 20 minutes or less, this salad is perfect for lunch, dinner or summer entertaining!
Hellllllllooo, friends!
⬆️ I Said that in my very best Mrs. Doubtfire voice.
You can hear it right?
Yes!
No?
Maybe so!?
In case you have zero clue what I’m talking about peep THIS.
Don’t worry, I’m not rocking cake on my face… well, not currently at least. 😜
Anywho, before we get to today’s recipe I wanted to clear something up really quickly since there seems to be some confusion concerning my last two posts.
If you are a dedicated, loyal follower of NSN (Hey there! I 💓 you!), then you might remember me saying a week ago we moved.
And then you may remember on Thursday I updated an old post. And that post ALSO happened to say we moved.
Well, I kept the actual WRITTEN words in that updated post on Thursday the same. Meaning, those words were written TWO years ago. And it just so happens that 2 years ago we also moved! Crazy coincidence, right?
I didn’t mean to cause pandemonium in the streets and mass confusion on the interwebs!
So let me break it down.
TWO YEARS AGO – Boy and I moved to NC.
TWO WEEKS AGO – Boy and I moved into our forever (until retirement) home. (<– Details still to come)
Does that make sense?
Feel free to leave a comment below if you need extra special attention and clarification.
Whew. Now that we have THAT cleared up, let’s eat. I’m famished.
Spicy Sesame Crusted Tuna with Thai Zucchini Salad
AKA Thai’d Tuna Salad
Thinly sliced, pan seared, luscious, mild tuna coated with a piquant, fragrant mix of seasonings and sesame seeds.
Lovingly arranged and served over an abundance of delicate, crisp zucchini noodles loaded with fresh veggies, bright herbs, spicy sliced chiles and crunchy peanuts.
Finished with a generous drizzle of a light, silky, smooth Asian flavored dressing.
This salad is fresh and healthy, yet jam packed flavor AND healthy noms. (READ: it’s fantastically figure friendly. Because, hello beach body goals, I’m still looking at you).
PLUS it is suuuuper simple and fast to throw together (25 minutes or less).
AAAAND, it is also elegant enough for entertaining (I mean, just LOOK at all the fresh and fabulous colors).
Essentially, this salad is straight 💯 and BEGGING to be devoured.
Recipe Notes:
- When consuming raw (or quickly seared) fish, it is VERY important to purchase your fish from a trusted, reputable source. Make sure you are buying fish that is safe for raw consumption and has been handled/stored properly.
- If you like your tuna quickly seared and rare, I recommend cooking the tuna for about 1 minute per side. If you like your tuna medium-rare, bump the cooking time up to about 2 – 2 ½ minutes per side.
- I used a mixture of both black and white sesame seeds to encrust my tuna. You can use just black or white, or a mixture of both.
- The dressing can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in a tight sealed container, or jar, in the refrigerator. Make sure you vigorously shake or whisk the dressing before serving.
- If you aren’t a fan of raw zucchini noodles, you can quickly sauté them as indicated in step 4 of the recipe. Make sure you cook the “noodles” until JUST cooked through and al dente. Also, do NOT season the zucchini noodles in advance of cooking or they will get watery!
Quick, easy, healthy AND delicious, this Spicy Sesame Crusted Tuna with Thai Zucchini Salad is perfect for lunch, dinner and entertaining. Print the recipe and get this in your life. Pronto. I pinkie-promise you are going to love it!
Until Thursday, friends, cheers – to tasty Thai tuna… and alluring alliteration. 😉
-XOXO-
Cheyanne
- 1 8-10 ounce Tuna Steak (Ahi, Yellowfin or Sashimi)*
- 1 tsp Chili Powder
- ½ tsp Ground Coriander
- ¼ tsp Ground Ginger
- 3 TBS Sesame Seeds – mix of both black and white
- Olive Oil
- Kosher Salt and Ground Pepper to taste
- 3 Large Zucchinis – ends trimmed and spiralized
- 1 Large Carrot – julienned
- ½ small Red Onion – thinly sliced
- ¼ Cup Cilantro Leaves
- 2 Scallions – thinly sliced
- 1 Red Thai Chile - minced
- ¼ Cup unsalted dry Roasted Peanuts – coarsely chopped
- 1 small Lime – juiced (about 2 TBS)
- 2 TBS Soy Sauce
- 1 TBS Sesame Oil ,plus more for pan
- 1 TBS Vegetable Oil
- 1 TBS Light Brown Sugar packed
- 1 tsp Ginger – grated
- 1 clove Garlic – minced
- ¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- For the Tuna: Season the tuna steak on all sides with chili powder, coriander, ginger, salt and pepper. Place the sesame seeds on a plate and add the tuna, gently pressing to adhere the seeds and turning to fully coat.
- Heat a good drizzle both olive and sesame oil in a medium sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the tuna and sear, about 30 seconds – 1 minute on each side depending on how cooked through you would like it. (The white sesame seeds should be slightly golden, but the inside of the tuna should be rare.) Transfer the tuna to a clean cutting board and let rest for a minute. Cut the tuna into ¼’’ thick slices.
- Optional: Return the sauté pan to the stove. Add the zucchini noodles and season liberally with salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes, or until warmed and al dente. Remove to bowl.
- To serve: Add zucchini noodles, carrot, onion, greens, cilantro, scallions and Thai chile to a bowl. Drizzle with half of the dressing and toss to combine. Arrange salad on plates and top with sliced tuna. Sprinkle with peanuts and serve with remaining dressing on the side. Enjoy!
1. When consuming raw (or quickly seared) fish, it is VERY important to purchase your fish from a trusted, reputable source. Make sure you are buying fish that is safe for raw consumption and has been handled/stored properly.
2. If you like your tuna quickly seared and rare, I recommend cooking the tuna for about 1 minute per side. If you like your tuna medium-rare, bump the cooking time up to about 2 – 2 ½ minutes per side.
3. I used a mixture of both black and white sesame seeds to encrust my tuna. You can use just black or white, or a mixture of both.
4. The dressing can be made up to 3 days in advance, and stored in a tight sealed container or jar in the refrigerator. Make sure you vigorously shake or whisk the dressing before serving.
5. If you aren’t a fan of raw zucchini noodles, you can quickly sauté them as indicated in step 4 of the recipe. Make sure you cook the "noodles" until JUST cooked through and al dente. Also, do NOT season the zucchini noodles in advance of cooking or they will get watery!
You Might Also Like:
Italian Summer Zucchini Noodle Salad with Burrata
Oregano Chicken Zucchini Noodle Bowl
Ahi Tuna Spring Salad with Asian Vinaigrette
I hope you are getting settled in nicely to your new home! I can’t wait to hear more about it 🙂 In the meantime, I’ll be feasting on this salad because it is seriously calling to me! I love seared tuna and you know I’m drooling over all the veggies! That amazing dressing just pulls it all together and takes it to a new level – I’m so in! Pinned! Have a wonderful week my friend! XO
This is a star restaurant tuna salad, Chey. The tuna is perfectly rare and that Thai flavoured squash salad looks just as stunning!
Mrs. Doubtfire is one of my all-time favorite movies! I can practically say every line word for word, I just love it! I was so looking forward to the sequel to come out before Robin Williams passed away. But anyways, this salad looks GORGEOUS! I love tuna steaks on top of salads, so this crusted version is calling my name. And yay for ALL of the zucchini noodles! What a gorgeous summer dish! Pinned! Happy Monday, friend!
Congrats on moving into your forever home! That’s SO exciting. I look forward to hearing all about it, Cheyanne! In the meantime, give me ALL the spicy sesame tuna!!!! This dish is insanely pretty.. and that Thai zucchini salad? I know where all of my garden zucchini are going to go 😉 Pinned!
Girl, this salad looks so bright and fresh, I gotta wear shades 😉 !! Seriously, though, that is some salad! Healthy and jam packed with flava? Yes, please! I don’t know about rockin’ any bikinis, but I still appreciate that this one is figure friendly. I totally wish I could use chop sticks so I could use with this recipe, but doesn’t matter any way, I’d still devour it in .5 seconds flat, lol. That dressing sounds divine too…extra red pepper flakes for me pleeeeeeeease! Pinned! Have a wicked week, girl! XOXO
Can’t wait to hear more about your move and the new home! I’m absolutely loving this salad, seared tuna is one of my favorites – and I love the thai twist on this and the veggies, such a healthy and delicious meal – I could go for it tonight!
I’m glad you’re in your forever home…that’s a great feeling isn’t it?? And this is one beautiful salad! That ahi tuna is cooked so perfectly and I love that it’s over a bed of zucchini noodles (which I don’t make nearly enough)! You can’t beat something this gorgeous that’s ready in 20 minutes either…it’s almost too good to be true!
Sesame is like my favorite flavor ever. For real, I cannot get enough! This sounds amazing! I know you just moved into your forever home (which, YAY!) but do you think you might consider moving again, to Phoenix, across the street from me and becoming my private chef? I’d really appreciate it :). Have a great week, Chey!
I hope you’re settling into your new place. So excited! (And thanks for clarifying – lol).
This looks incredibly. Seared tuna is one of my favorite things in the warmer months. This looks absolutely fabulous! XOXO!
Congratulations on the move! Don’t you love knowing that you’re rooted and building your life in your beautiful new home… I love that idea! Wow ! I love this salad! So healthy and delicious! My family would gobble this right up!! Pinned! Happy week, my friend! XOXO
lol! Okay, I’m all caught up on the move now…
Gorgeous salad! It’s the kind of thing I want to eat every day of the week right now – so hot hot hot outside.
Congrats on the forever home!! No better way to celebrate than with seared tuna. We don’t get this much out my way, most of the locals would consider this “raw”, lol. So when I can get it I’m happy! Delicious. Take care.
Can’t wait to see some pics of the new house Chey!! What a gorgeous salad you’re serving up today. I wish we lived closer because Tom catches fresh tuna a few times a summer and we usually have bags and bags to dish out! Last trip it was a 100 pounder!! Love the Thai Zucchini Salad too. Looks like we were both thinking zucchini today. Hope you have a great week!
Your explanation sounds even more confusing, Chey haha. But I’m glad I got it right in first place. I guess:) So look forward to your updates. And wait…do we need to find THE NEW NAME for your new home (cause the old one was perfect)? Mmmm so many questions – so few answers:) This dish sounds and looks amazing – delicious, bright, light, and healthy. I’ll take it!
Such a beautiful salad Chey! Too bad we don’t live closer, because Tom goes out fishing all summer long for tuna! Just came back with a 100 pounder last weekend! We usually dish out bags and bags of it to friends. Love the Thai zucchini salad you’ve got along with the tuna! Looks like we were both thinking zucchini today! Hope you have a great week!
You made this for me right? Right? We LOVE all things Thai and the fact you are using zucchini here is just marvelous. Glad you’re all moved in!
I adore salads like this! Pinning for my next summer dinner 🙂 I hope you are settling into your move well! That is so exciting
I love that crusty seeded coating on the tuna! This looks like a perfect summer dish.
Such a pretty looking sesame crusted tuna. And I love how beautifully you have paired it with zucchini salad. Congratulations on your move. Hope you guys have settled into new place.
haha oh that’s too funny with the timing!! We have a pattern of moving every three years (like on the dot) but that has finally come to an end with our move here 🙂 Which means we will be forever neighbors!! Woot woot! And on an unrelated note, this salad sounds deeelicious!
I have a tendency to move every year and a half so I’m kind of jealous that you’re now settled into your forever home. Also, this seared tuna salad looks incredible! Perfect for summer.
This salad looks like the perfect summer dish – refreshing yet flavorful and with enough protein to keep you going. Love it.
I have a confession. I hate cooked zucchini, it leaves a weird aftertaste in my mouth which is always impossible to get rid of. But raw zucchini totally floats my boat, and I have yet to meet a piece of seared tuna that I don’t enjoy. Loving the addition of peanuts and peppers. LOL, I can totally hear the Mr.s Doubtfire voice.
My goodness, this recipe looks mouthwatering! I LOVE crusted tuna! Great job on this post!