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Tuna Steak Recipes

Restaurant-quality tuna steak recipes — seared rare, sesame-crusted, grilled, and served with bold sauces.

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Andrew Valenzona
Paul Abramson
Dan-O's Seasoning
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Dinner

Tuna Steak w/ Wasabi MashDinner

Tuna Steak w/ Wasabi Mash

Marinated ahi tuna steak on a bed of wasabi mashed with a side of grilled bok choy.

45 min1020 cal70g proteinServes 232 saves
Andrew ValenzonaAndrew Valenzona

Ingredients

  • TUNA STEAK:
  • 2 Ahi or Yellowfin Tuna Steak (roughly 4 oz or 1in thick)
  • 6 tbsp Soy sauce (low-sodium)
  • 3 tbsp Tested Sesame Oil
  • 3 tbsp Honey
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp White pepper
  • 3 tbsp Canola or Olive oil
  • BOK CHOY:
  • 2 stocks Bok Choy
  • 4 tbsp Olive oil
  • 4 tsp Salt
  • 3 tsp Black pepper
  • WASABI MASHED POTATOES:
  • 2 lbs Yukon Gold or Redskin Potatoes (cut in 1/2 in cubes)
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream
  • 3/4 cup or 1 1/2 sticks Unsalted Butter
  • 1 1/4 tbsp Wasabi Paste
  • 2 tbsp Sesame Oil
  • 1 cup Chopped Green Onion
  • 3 large cloves Garlic (sliced)
  • (To taste) Salt
  • (To taste) Black pepper

Instructions

  1. 1Bok Choy: Thoroughly wash the stocks to remove dirt and sand between the leaves. Cut stocks in half. Rinse thoroughly again and set aside in a bowl of water (allows remaining dirt and sand to sink to the bottom of the bowl).
  2. 2Tuna: Pat tuna steaks dry. Place in a container for marinating.
  3. 3Tuna: in a bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, salt and pepper. Mix until honey is dissolved (Double marinade if you want extra for dipping). Set aside 1/4 of marinade for cooking. Pour remaining 3/4 of marinade onto the tuna steaks. Coat steaks well and place in fridge for about 10-20 minutes.
  4. 4Potatoes: Place potatoes in a large pot. Cover with water. On high to medium high heat, bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and cook for 17 minutes or until tender. Drain well.
  5. 5Potatoes: while the potatoes are cooking place 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, garlic and green onions in a sauce pan. On low heat, let the butter mixture melt, brown and infuse. Stir occasionally. Once the the butter has a dark golden color, strain into a bowl and set aside.
  6. 6Bok Choy: remove bok choy from bowl of water and pat dry with paper towel. In a large bowl toss the bok choy in olive oil, salt and pepper.
  7. 7Potatoes: once cooked and drained, return to the same pot and using a masher combine the potatoes, remaining 1/2 stick of butter, heavy cream, wasabi paste and sesame oil. Return to stove top on low heat. Fold in infused brown butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  8. 8Tuna: using a greased grill or grill pan on medium to medium high heat, cook the steaks for roughly 2-3 minutes on each side (Note: tuna steaks are meant to be raw in the middle. Cook time will vary depending on size). After first flip, brush the steaks with the marinade that was set aside. Flip one more time and brush then remove and let rest.
  9. 9Bok Choy: using a greased grill or grill pan on medium to medium high heat, cook the for roughly 3-5 minutes on each side.
  10. 10Slice the tuna steaks, plate and enjoy 😋 Optional garnish with sesame seeds.

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Why Tuna Steak Is the Easiest Impressive Dinner

A seared tuna steak takes about 90 seconds per side, requires almost no preparation, and looks stunning on the plate. It's one of the few proteins where doing less is always better — the goal is a deep sear on the outside with a cool, rare center.

Season with sesame seeds, soy sauce, and ginger for an Asian-inspired preparation, or keep it minimal with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of high-quality olive oil. The quality of the fish matters more than anything else here — buy sushi-grade when possible.

On Pepper, these are the tuna steak recipes home cooks return to, making impressive seafood dinners a regular part of their routine.

Quick Tips

  1. 1

    Buy sushi-grade for rare

    If you're searing tuna rare or medium-rare, make sure it's labeled sushi-grade or sashimi-grade. This ensures it's been handled and frozen to food-safe standards for raw consumption.

  2. 2

    Screaming hot pan only

    Tuna steaks need a very hot pan — cast iron or stainless — to get a proper sear without overcooking. 60–90 seconds per side for rare is all it takes. Don't use non-stick here.

  3. 3

    Season right before searing

    Pat tuna steaks dry and season with salt and pepper right before they hit the pan. Salting too early draws out moisture, which can create steam in the pan instead of a clean sear.

  4. 4

    Slice thin against grain

    Slice seared tuna thinly against the grain at an angle for the cleanest presentation and best texture. A sharp knife and confident cuts make a big difference in how the final dish looks.

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