• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cooking in The Keys

  • Recipes
  • Journal
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Journal
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Follow

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Journal
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Follow

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Seafood

    Seared Yellowfin Tuna with Sesame Sauce

    April 22, 2021 by Felice Kaufman

    seared tuna pin

    Seared Yellowfin Tuna with Sesame Sauce is a delicious meal that cooks in a few minutes. Yellowfin, also known as Ahi Tuna, is cut from the loin of the tuna.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    seared ahi tuna

    Coated with sesame seeds and quickly seared, the inside of the tune remains moist with its beautiful vibrant red color and the top and bottom are quickly seared. Most of the tuna available for purchase in the United States is sushi-grade and frozen before sale.

    How to Sear Tuna

    coating raw tuna in sesame seeds
    how to cook raw tuna in sesame seeds
    seared_tuna

    The succulent, firm meat and rich, distinctive flavor of fresh Ahi tuna makes it a favorite among seafood lovers.

    What You Need:

    For the Tuna

    • 12 ounces Yellowfin (Ahi) Tuna
    • Salt and pepper
    • Toasted white sesame seeds
    • Black sesame seeds
    • Unsalted ghee or clarified butter

    For the Sauce

    • Mayonnaise
    • Coconut aminos 
    • Fresh garlic
    • Fresh ginger
    • Sesame oil
    • Fresh lemon juice

    How to Sear Fresh Tuna

    To get a good sear, your pan should be very hot, so let it heat for a few minutes before adding the fish.

    Mix white and black seeds together and spread them on a large plate. Season the tuna with salt and pepper and press the tuna into the seeds, coating well on top and bottom.

    Heat a tablespoon of ghee (clarified butter) in a 10" cast-iron skillet for three minutes. Add tuna steak coated with sesame seeds to hot butter and sear for 20 to 30 seconds and then carefully turn it over with a large spatula or fish turner. Repeat on the other side. Remove to a plate and place in the refrigerator to cool.

    When completely cool, slice the tuna against the grain with a very sharp knife. Serve with Sesame Dipping Sauce and lemon wedges.

    What to Serve with Seared Tuna

    fresh ahi tuna on plate with sesame dipping sauce

    Seared tuna has a beautiful red color, so adding lots of contrasting color can make a delicious presentation. You could serve your seared tuna over cauliflower rice, white or brown rice, steamed vegetables, or a crisp green salad.

    Try Some Other Low-Carb Seafood Dishes:

    • Florida Keys Shrimp Cocktail
    • Seared Mahimahi with Basil Butter
    • Pan Fried Yellowtail Snapper
    • Baked Coconut Shrimp with Mango Dipping Sauce
    seared_tuna

    Seared Yellowfin Tuna with Sesame Dipping Sauce

    Cooking in The Keys
    Season the tuna with salt and pepper and press top and bottom into a mixture of black and white sesame seeds. The tuna steak is seared in ghee or oil in a hot pan for one minute per side, which creates a crispy crust on the outside and a vibrant red rare interior.
    3
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 2 mins
    Resting time 30 mins
    Total Time 42 mins
    Course Appetizer, Entrees
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2 servings
    Calories 518.1 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    FOR THE SESAME DIPPING SAUCE

    • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
    • 1 tablespoon coconut aminos (add more to taste)
    • ½ teaspoon minced garlic or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger* or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice

    FOR THE TUNA

    • 12 ounces fresh Yellowfin (Ahi) Tuna
    • salt
    • black pepper
    • 3 tablespoon toasted white sesame seeds
    • 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted ghee or clarified butter use avocado oil for dairy free option

    Garnish

    • 2 lemons sliced into wedges

    Instructions
     

    FOR THE SESAME DIPPING SAUCE

    • Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and chill until ready to serve.
      ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon coconut aminos, ½ teaspoon minced garlic, ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger*, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice

    FOR THE TUNA

    • Mix white and black seeds together and spread them on a large plate. Season the tuna with salt and pepper and press the tuna into the seeds, coating well on top and bottom.
      12 ounces fresh Yellowfin (Ahi) Tuna, salt, black pepper, 3 tablespoon toasted white sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
    • Heat a heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add clarified butter and swirl to coat pan. Add tuna and sear each side for 20-30 seconds for rare or up to one minute for medium rare. Remove from pan and refrigerate until ready to serve, or at least 30 minutes.
      1 tablespoon unsalted ghee or clarified butter
    • With a very sharp knife, slice the tuna against the grain. Serve with Sesame Dipping Sauce and lemon wedges.
      2 lemons

    Notes

    • Peel ginger with the side of a teaspoon and grate on the small holes of a box grater.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 518.1kcalCarbohydrates: 9.1gProtein: 42.8gTotal Fat: 34.1gSaturated Fat: 9.5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 89.8mgSodium: 516.1mgPotassium: 521.5mgFiber: 1.9gSugar: 1.4g

    Nutrition Information

    The nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and it comes from online calculators. Although we try to attempt to provide accurate information, these figures are estimates only.

    Tried this recipe? Please share it!Mention @cookinginthekeys or tag #cookinginthekeys
    « James Beard's Zucchini Egg Frittata
    Roasted Asparagus »

    Primary Sidebar

    felice_sundowners

    Hi! I'm Felice Kaufman. Join me on my culinary adventure in Key Largo, Florida, where I eat, cook, shop, and travel for fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, and more!

    LEARN MORE →

    Join our email list




    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Cooking in The Keys

    • About
    • Journal
    • Recipes
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

    Copyright © 2022 Cooking in The Keys | All rights reserved