Savor an oceanic symphony of gourmet flavors with my tantalizing Sesame-Crusted Tuna recipe! This melt-in-your-mouth recipe for seared tuna steaks encrusted with a delicate blend of toasted sesame seeds requires just 7 simple ingredients and only 25 minutes of prep time. Cheers for restaurant-quality eats in the comfort of your own home!Recipe can be scaled up or down by using the slider if you hover your mouse over the number of Servings.
Optionalfor Serving:Veggie Noodles, Steamed Rice, Asian Cucumber Salad
Instructions
Make Sesame Crust: On a small plate, mix together the chili powder, coriander, ginger, salt, pepper, and sesame seeds.
Prepare Tuna Steak: Place the ahi tuna on a clean work surface and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels. Brush the tuna all over with soy sauce and 1 teaspoon sesame oil.
Coat Tuna with Sesame Seeds: Transfer the ahi tuna to the plate with the sesame seed mixture. Press the tuna steak down into the sesame seeds mixture. Flip the tuna over and press again to coat the tuna all over with sesame seeds.
Heat Skillet to Blazing Hot: Place a dry cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Leave the skillet on the stove-top and let it heat up until VERY HOT. (Note: You can tell the pan is hot enough by adding a couple drops of water to the pan. If the water sizzles, the pan is hot and ready for searing!)
Add Oil: Once the pan is very hot, add the peanut oil, followed by the remaining teaspoon sesame oil.
Sear Sesame Crusted Tuna: Once the oil is shimmering, carefully add the tuna steak to the hot oil, using the back of a fish spatula to gently press down on the tuna. Let the tuna sear - undisturbed - for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Use your fish spatula to gently lift up one corner of the ahi tuna to check the bottom. Once the bottom of the tuna steak is beautifully golden in color, carefully flip the tuna. Continue to sear the tuna for 45 seconds to 1 1/2 minutes, or until both sides of the tuna steak are deeply golden in color. (Note: If you would like to sear the edges of the ahi, use tongs to hold the tuna upright in the hot pan.)
Rest: Transfer the seared tuna to a clean work surface and let rest for 1 minute.
Slice Tuna: Using a sharp slicing knife or sharp Chef's knife, thinly slice the tuna steak against the grain.
Serve or Store: Serve sesame crusted tuna steak with your favorite seafood side dish, or store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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. I recommend using sashimi grade ahi or yellowfin tuna in this tuna steak recipe.
Searing Times: If you like your tuna quickly seared and rare, I recommend cooking the tuna for 30-45 seconds per side. If you prefer your tuna closer to medium, bump the cooking time up to about 75 seconds (1 minute 15 seconds) per side.
Sesame Seeds: I typically use a mixture of both black and white sesame seeds to encrust my tuna, because I prefer the visual appeal. However, you can use just one color if you prefer - black or white.
Nutritional information is an estimate based upon 4 servings. Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.