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    Recipes » Main Course Recipes » Asian Main Courses

    Grilled Tuna Steaks

    Published: Sep 2, 2020 · Modified: Jan 4, 2021 by Marissa Stevens · 39 Comments

    Gluten FreeLow CarbMediterraneanQuick MealsPescatarian

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    sliced grilled tuna steaks on a round white plate

    Make restaurant quality Grilled Tuna Steaks at home in less than 30 minutes. All you need are a few simple ingredients and a couple of high quality tuna steaks.

    Grilled Tuna Steaks served on a white plate

    Grilling ahi tuna over high heat ensures a rare center and beautiful grill marks. And a sesame soy dipping sauce that doubles as a marinade elevates this weeknight easy dish to something worthy of a special occasion.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients You Need to Make Grilled Tuna Steaks
    • How do you know if tuna is fresh enough to serve rare or raw?
    • Grilled Tuna Steaks FAQ
    • More Grilled Fish and Seafood
    • How to Grill Tuna Steaks
    • Grilled Tuna Steaks
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients You Need to Make Grilled Tuna Steaks

    Grilled Tuna Steak Ingredients on a white marble board
    • Fresh Tuna Steaks: ideally yellowfin tuna (often marketed as ahi tuna). This recipe will also work well for other types of tuna like bluefin, bonito/skipjack, bigeye, or albacore.
    • Soy Sauce: Regular or lite soy sauce. Here is my favorite brand!
    • Unseasoned Rice Vinegar: Be sure to use unseasoned rice vinegar, not the seasoned version that contains added sugar and salt.
    • Honey: Your favorite variety.
    • Green Onion: Look for a smooth, firm, bright green onion.
    • Toasted Sesame Oil: While plain sesame oil has very little color or flavor, toasted sesame oil has a deep amber color and a nutty, toasty aroma and flavor.
    • Fresh Ginger: Look for a plump fresh ginger hand with smooth, shiny skin.
    • Garlic: Fresh garlic bulbs should be plump and firm with smooth, silvery skin.
    • Olive Oil: Use whatever variety you have on hand - extra virgin olive oil isn't essential here.
    • Kosher Salt
    • Freshly Ground Black Pepper
    Grilled Tuna Steaks served on a white plate photographed from above

    How do you know if tuna is fresh enough to serve rare or raw?

    It can be intimidating to serve raw or rare tuna at home. How do you know if your fish is fresh enough? It's an important question and one that isn't regulated by the FDA, despite grocery store signage claiming 'sushi grade' or 'sashimi grade' (here is a great article if you want to read about this in depth). It's key to buy from a reputable fishmonger and here are some things to look for:

    • Deeply red or pink tuna steaks (not brown) that are moist, shiny, and nearly translucent, particularly if you plan to serve it rare or raw (as in this Tuna Tartare). (Ideally your fishmonger will cut fresh steaks to order from a whole loin.)
    • Tuna steaks should smell of fresh sea-air; avoid those with a fishy odor.

    Grilled Tuna Steaks FAQ

    How hot should the grill be for tuna steaks?

    Grill tuna steaks over high heat to keep the center rare while achieving beautiful sear marks.

    How do you grill tuna steak well done?

    If you prefer your tuna steaks well done, you'll need to grill them for an additional 2 to 3 minutes per side.

    Can you marinate tuna steaks too long?

    Marinating tuna steaks in a mixture that contains acid like vinegar or citrus juice will ultimately cook the fish - as in ceviche. If you choose to marinate your tuna steaks, only do so for 20-30 minutes.

    More Grilled Fish and Seafood

    • Grilled Swordfish
    • Spicy Grilled Shrimp
    • Grilled Bacon Wrapped Scallops
    • Grilled Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

    How to Grill Tuna Steaks

    Step 1: Whisk together dipping sauce ingredients (soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic).

    tuna steak marinade

    Step 2: Preheat grill to high. Rinse and dry tuna steaks then rub all sides with oil and season with salt and pepper.

    rinsing tuna steak and rubbing with oil
    Seasoned Tuna Steak

    Step 3: Grill tuna steaks until seared on the outside and rare in the middle, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to cutting board and thinly slice tuna across the grain.

    grilling tuna steak
    grilled tuna steaks served
    Grilled Tuna Steaks served on a white plate

    Grilled Tuna Steaks

    Marissa Stevens
    This grilled tuna steak recipe is all about the quality of your fish. Be sure to choose it with care.
    5 from 15 votes
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 4 mins
    Total Time 14 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Asian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 272 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon honey
    • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
    • 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
    • 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
    • 2 ahi tuna steaks about 1 pound
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • kosher salt
    • freshly ground black pepper
    • sesame seeds to taste
    • thinly sliced green onion to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Make dipping sauce. In a medium bowl whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, and honey until honey dissolves. Whisk in sesame oil, ginger, and garlic until emulsified. Leave at room temperature or refrigerate if desired. (recipe note #1)
    • Preheat a gas grill (or charcoal grill) to high. (recipe note #2)
    • Rinse tuna steaks and pat dry with paper towels. Rub all sides of tuna with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill tuna 2 minutes per side, until seared on the outside and rare in the center. (If you prefer a cooked center, cook an additional ~2 minutes per side.) Transfer tuna to cutting board. With a thin, sharp knife, thinly slice tuna across the grain (¼ to ½-inch thick slices). Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onion. Serve with dipping sauce.

    Notes

    1. If you prefer marinated fish, double the dipping sauce recipe and marinate the rinsed and dried tuna steaks for 20 to 30 minutes in ½ of the sauce before grilling. Serve the remaining sauce alongside for dipping.
    2. As an optional step to prevent sticking, brush grill grates with a high heat neutral or vegetable oil just before you add steaks to the grill.
    3. If desired, divide dipping sauce among 4 small bowls for serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 272kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 28gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 799mgPotassium: 323mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 2476IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword date night, dinner party
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.

    More Asian Main Courses

    • Crispy Baked Egg Rolls
    • Salt and Pepper Shrimp
    • Korean Pork Belly
    • Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Cajun Kirk says

      January 16, 2023 at 5:49 pm

      5 stars
      I used Balsamic vinegar, as I didn't have the Rice vinegar. It was fantastic!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 18, 2023 at 11:11 am

        So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for coming back to let me know.

        Reply
    2. Heather Taylor says

      September 12, 2022 at 6:00 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve started cooking Ahi recently, and this sauce is perfect! It also goes well over the rice I serve with the fish. And don’t discount the green onion garnish, adds a nice crunchy flavor. Yummm!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 12, 2022 at 6:02 pm

        aww...thank you for the sweet comment, Heather! I'm so glad you're enjoying the recipe!

        Reply
    3. Maggie says

      August 19, 2022 at 6:12 pm

      I have made this twice now. It’s really delicious. I add a little Bachan’s Japanese barbecue sauce to the sauce. I always make extra and put it aside for dipping while eating 🙂 we are lucky to have a sprouts market and they sell wild Ahi for $9:99 a pound. It’s really delicious. I do three minutes aside because it’s not sushi grade but it’s very close. Anyway my husband is in heaven 🙂

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        August 20, 2022 at 10:36 am

        So glad you're enjoying this and adding your own spin, Maggie!

        Reply
    4. Natalia says

      July 12, 2022 at 3:06 pm

      Marissa, I love this recipe. Nevertheless, I changed two things. I add two teaspoons honey to the dipping sauce and I added 1 tablespoon of the dipping sauce over each tuna steak in the last 30 seconds of cooking. The dipping sauce is great. Thank you so much for this great recipe.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        July 15, 2022 at 8:35 pm

        So glad you're enjoying this, Natalia! Thank you for your cooking notes.

        Reply
    5. Ted says

      December 28, 2021 at 2:59 pm

      5 stars
      Love it ……. I put Bagel everything to crust the tuna.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        December 29, 2021 at 9:39 am

        So glad you enjoyed this, Ted!

        Reply
    6. Howard says

      December 12, 2021 at 2:10 pm

      5 stars
      Wife was away, so I was in charge of preparing dinner. Had everything on hand which was a bonus. Just shopped for tuna. Dip easy to prepare with clear/complete ingredient list and instructions. Thanks for publishing this. It is now my go to meal!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        December 12, 2021 at 3:35 pm

        My pleasure, Howard! I'm so glad you're enjoying this and it's so kind of you to come back and let me know!

        Reply
    7. patti says

      October 14, 2021 at 3:32 pm

      5 stars
      First time cooking tuna. Your recipe made it easy and it came out perfect

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        October 15, 2021 at 9:36 am

        That's wonderful to hear, Patti! Thank you for coming back to let me know.

        Reply
    8. Cindy Deal says

      September 27, 2021 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      This is the third time I tried to cook Tuna, All other recipes had me cooking the tuna much too long. This was perfect. Will do again soon.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 27, 2021 at 4:39 pm

        That's so great to hear, Cindy! Thank you for coming back to let me know.

        Reply
    9. Gary Menely says

      September 17, 2021 at 7:49 pm

      Loved the recipe one correction should Tuna shown is Bluefin. Yellowfin Tuna is not Sushi grade nor does it look pink when seared. Bluefin is Grades above Yellowfin

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 18, 2021 at 8:03 pm

        Hi there, Gary. I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe! The seared tuna pictured is Yellowfin Ahi Tuna that I bought from my local fishmonger - it's a species often used for sushi.

        Reply
    10. Judy says

      August 04, 2021 at 4:21 pm

      5 stars
      T
      Really good and so easy to throw together. Will keep this one to use again.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        August 04, 2021 at 4:22 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it, Judy! Thank you for coming back to let me know.

        Reply
    11. CoachDave says

      July 15, 2021 at 4:16 pm

      5 stars
      Fabulous. Prepared just like the recipe and whole family loved it. We will definitely do this again, no changes needed.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        July 17, 2021 at 12:48 pm

        That's wonderful to hear CoachDave! Thank you for coming back to let me know.

        Reply
    12. Valentina says

      September 11, 2020 at 11:05 am

      5 stars
      What a beautiful plate! Ahi tuna is probably my favorite fish, and prepared like this, it's such a hit. Like being at a restaurant, indeed. 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
    13. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

      September 09, 2020 at 10:09 am

      5 stars
      It's been quite a while since I've had tuna steaks and now I'm thinking it's time! Way to make a restaurant fave even better at home! A nice glass of wine and this and I'm set 😉

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 09, 2020 at 10:44 am

        Sounds great to me, Dawn! Thank you!

        Reply
    14. Elizabeth Berg says

      September 08, 2020 at 4:32 am

      5 stars
      I order rare tuna whenever I get the opportunity when we dine out! One of my favorite entrees! Your steaks are cooked to perfection and your tips are invaluable! Thanks, Marissa.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 09, 2020 at 10:46 am

        Thank you so much, Elizabeth!

        Reply
    15. Alex says

      September 04, 2020 at 7:38 pm

      5 stars
      This is absolutely beautiful, Marissa! One of my favourite things to enjoy when I am out, but I look forward to recreating this at home. Divine!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 08, 2020 at 9:06 am

        That's great to hear, Alex! Thank you!

        Reply
    16. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

      September 03, 2020 at 7:07 pm

      5 stars
      I'm definitely one of those people wary of serving my own raw fish, but I'm always happy to eat it when it's served to me! You've given me confidence with these beautiful seared tuna steaks though! They look SO good Marissa!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 08, 2020 at 9:07 am

        aww...thank you, Katherine! I hope you'll give this a try!

        Reply
    17. David @ Spiced says

      September 03, 2020 at 4:23 am

      5 stars
      This post makes me want to go find a reliable fishmonger! The grocery store version never looks appetizing, but this post is making me crave grilled tuna like crazy right now. And that sesame-honey-soy sauce combination sounds perfect!!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 03, 2020 at 9:11 am

        Thanks, David! I hope you're able to track down some great tuna steaks.

        Reply
    18. Rahul @samosastreet says

      September 02, 2020 at 11:01 pm

      5 stars
      I love grilled tuna steaks, but always afraid to make it at home. This is such a simple & easy to make recipe Marissa. Thank you for sharing

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 03, 2020 at 9:11 am

        My pleasure, Rahul. Enjoy!

        Reply
    19. Ben | Havocinthekitchen says

      September 02, 2020 at 4:25 pm

      5 stars
      I am embarrassed to admit I've never tried fresh tuna - only canned! These tuna steaks look spectacular, and I'm totally digging this soy-sesame-honey marinade - so flavorful!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 03, 2020 at 9:11 am

        Wha!? You've got to try fresh, Ben! 🙂

        Reply
    20. angiesrecipes says

      September 02, 2020 at 6:36 am

      Your tuna steak is perfectly grilled!! I don't have a grill, but I am sure a grill pan would work just fine.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 02, 2020 at 11:59 am

        Thank you, Angie! And, yes, a grill pan would work well!

        Reply

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