Serve up healthy fresh seafood for dinner with these lively marinated tuna steaks gently soaked in soy, lime, olive oil, and seasonings. This is a perfect main course for a weeknight meal or a special occasion!
Tuna is an exceptionally mild-flavored fish, making it ideal for taking on the flavors of a marinade. Although you can simply season fresh tuna and brush it with olive oil, I think you will find this 15 minute marinade to be the best way to enjoy these tender tuna steaks.
Ingredients and Substitutions
My tuna steak marinade recipe plays off of an Asian-inspired theme by featuring simple ingredients such as a mixture of soy sauce, lime, and olive oil. I add a chopped jalapeno for a subtle kick, although that can be omitted if you are heat-adverse, however, the sweetness from the dash of sugar does provide balance to the mild heat.
- Tuna steaks - You want fresh or frozen tuna steaks. You absolutely do not want canned tuna for this recipe. Any high-quality variety will work. Ahi tuna, yellowfin tuna, or albacore tuna are all common varieties of fresh fish you may find at your local grocery store, but feel free to grab another type of tuna if you find it.
- Vegetable oil - Olive oil or sesame oil are great choices.
- Sesame Seeds
- Lime juice - You can use fresh limes or bottled lime juice. Fresh lemon juice and orange juice could be substituted in a pinch. Otherwise, you can also get acidity from rice vinegar, but you will lack the great flavor of citrus juice.
- Soy sauce - I enjoy this recipe with regular soy sauce but a few people mentioned it was too salty for them, so I now recommend reduced sodium soy sauce for anyone who is sensitive to salt.
- Fresh Cilantro - Fresh parsley can be substituted.
- White Sugar
- Fresh Garlic clove
- Jalapeno pepper - A Thai pepper would be a great substitute. Otherwise, you can also add crushed red pepper flakes.
How to marinate tuna steaks
Combine the olive oil, lime juice, soy sauce, cilantro, jalapeno, sugar, and garlic in a small dish. Place tuna steaks in a large plastic storage bag and pour in the marinade mixture (reserving one tablespoon of the marinade), ensuring the fresh seafood is fully coated.
It doesn't take long for the tuna to soak in the flavor of this tuna steak marinade. I think 30 minutes to an hour is the sweet spot, but more generally 15 minutes - 2 hours is what I aim for.
Warning: You can marinate fresh tuna for too long. You do not want the tuna steaks to sit in the marinade for an excessive amount of time or the acids will ruin the texture of the fish, similar to making ceviche.
How to cook tuna steaks
High-quality tuna is meant to be enjoyed rare. Ideally, you want to sear the tuna while leaving the interior perfectly pink. Overcooking this tuna steak recipe will leave it dry and flavorless.
To achieve perfectly cooked tuna steaks you will want to employ a ripping hot skillet. The aim is to quickly sear both sides of the steak before the interior heats up excessively. I like using my cast-iron skillet for this, otherwise, any large nonstick skillet will also work.
On most stoves, medium-high heat should be sufficient, but don't be afraid to go hotter if needed. Be sure to add a generous swirl of oil into the pan, as this will help with browning. Rare tuna only will require a couple of minutes per side to get a good sear. Thinner tuna steaks will cook faster than a thick tuna steaks.
Tip: This can also be done on an outdoor grill!
What to Serve with Tuna Steaks
OK, so you are all set to serve your Marinated Tuna Steaks to your adoring family, but what should you serve with it? Aim for a light side dish like a simple salad, nothing too heavy. My Mexican Street Corn Salad, Honey Roasted Beets, or Coconut Milk Rice with Pineapple would all be flavorful accompaniments. Even something as simple as oven roasted asparagus would be appropriate.
Marinated Tuna Steaks
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh tuna steaks
- 2 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Tuna Steak Marinade
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- ½ jalapeno pepper (diced)
Instructions
- Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together with a fork.
- Place raw tuna steaks in a gallon zip-lock bag and add marinade, reserving 1 tablespoon. Let marinade for 15 minutes - 2 hours.
- Add cooking oil to a heated skillet set to medium-high heat.
- When oil is heated and shimmering add tuna steaks. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, aiming to sear the exterior while the interior remains pink. Cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of your tuna steak.
- Remove the seared tuna steaks from the skillet and let rest for 5 minutes, spoon over the remaining tablespoon of marinade if desired, sprinkle with sesame seeds, then serve.
Notes
Nutritional Information
This recipe was originally published June 13, 2018 on FoxValleyFoodie.com.
will g
most excellent marinade
K James
Delicious combination of flavors. Great over rice too!
Heidi
Made this today, very successful. I too had a huge splatter so will probably use a non-stick minus the oil next time and have a lid ready. Poured all the marinade onto the fish at the end and simmered quickly before serving - so no wastage. Served with Korean mung bean salad and fresh greens from the garden. Thanks for posting.
CMK
Thank you for the recipe! We are in Mexico, where the tuna steaks are so beautiful we had to buy them, and have made this twice since we have been here (in the last month). All of your flavors are spot-on and the ingredients are easily accessible. This will be a go-to recipe for any time we are staying down here.
Kurt Wallinger
It was OK, but the lime flavor overpowered the dish. I would cut the lime in half next time. It also didn't pick up much cilantro flavor even though I used fresh. Very quick and easy to make.
Tony
Your Tuna recipe was fab, I toasted my sesame seeds and sliced the tuna first before cooking, then put ot In a tortilla wrap with salad. Will be having again.
J Shockley
Can’t wait to try!!!
joan c mahon
Am trying this recipe for the first time tonight !!! will let you know how they were
Ruth Dunn
Really, this is the best tuna recipes I've ever done! My son gave me some tuna after his last fishing trip. I love fish but Tuna has never been one of my favorites. Well it is now! What an awesome recipe! Thank you for posting it!
Josh
Tips on Making this safely? I tried the recipe several times each with less oil. The oil starts shooting in all directions as soon as I place the tuna in the pan.
Fox Valley Foodie
You can purchase a grease splatter screen if needed. Otherwise, just make sure your fish isn't frozen and pat off any pooling moisture on the surface and that should minimize any oil fireworks.
LJ
ahh your oil is too hot!
dd
I'm going to make this tonight and will try using grape seed oil for high heat recipes
Kia
This was hit with my hubby! Now he thinks im some kind of chef 👩🍳😩😩. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Iva Tummett
Loved this recipe, it turned out to one of my favorites, will definitely make it again😋😋
Susan
Delicious!! Printed and keeping this one!
Jill
Great recipe! Super easy and delicious.
Steve t
Best grilled fish I’ve had. Kudos
Michael S Manning
My favorite recipe for tuna steaks too.
Nathan
This is now my favorite way to prepare tuna steaks!
Priscilla
It was to salty. I am going to prepare tuna steaks to night. How should I season them?P