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    Recipes » Main Course Recipes » Asian Main Courses

    Grilled Tuna Steaks

    Published: Jun 29, 2023 by Marissa Stevens · 51 Comments

    Gluten FreeLow CarbMediterraneanQuick MealsPescatarian

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    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
    • Recipe Video
    • 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 or Ahi Tuna Salad). 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

    Recipe Video

    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 19 votes
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 4 minutes mins
    Total Time 14 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Asian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 272 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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

    • Ahi Tuna Salad served in a black bowl and photographed from the top.
      Ahi Tuna Salad
    • Kung Pao Beef served in a white ceramic bowl with wooden chopsticks and peanuts in a bowl and photographed from the top.
      Kung Pao Beef
    • Kung Pao Shrimp served over rice in a white bowl and photographed from the top.
      Kung Pao Shrimp
    • Kung Pao Cauliflower served in a white bowl.
      Kung Pao Cauliflower

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Andrea says

      September 29, 2023 at 5:50 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is so Easy and so delicious!!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        October 02, 2023 at 2:29 pm

        Thank you, Andrea! So glad you're enjoying it.

        Reply
    2. Sarah Caraway says

      September 08, 2023 at 9:53 am

      5 stars
      I have never made or had grilled tuna steaks before. My son, who is moving to Japan, saw frozen tuna steaks and Sam's and suggested we try them. We thawed them and followed the directions. They were so good! The sauce was so delicious I could just drink it (but I didn't haha). We dipped our steaks in the sauce and I even poured some of it on my jasmine rice.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 08, 2023 at 2:45 pm

        I love this, Sarah! I'm so glad the recipe is a hit with you and your family!

        Reply
    3. Jim says

      August 02, 2023 at 8:33 am

      5 stars
      Excellent Dipping Sauce! The only way that this recipe would be better is if I had caught the tuna in the morning and was grilling it in the evening!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        August 02, 2023 at 12:52 pm

        I love this, Jim! So glad you're enjoying the recipe.

        Reply
    4. Mimi Rippee says

      July 03, 2023 at 2:32 am

      Fabulous! Great seasoning. Tuna really lends itself well to Asian flavors.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        July 03, 2023 at 2:08 pm

        Thank you, Mimi! I agree.

        Reply
    5. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

      July 01, 2023 at 12:55 pm

      Beautifully cooked Marissa and with your dipping sauce, it must have been a delicious meal.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        July 03, 2023 at 2:09 pm

        Thanks so much, Karen.

        Reply
    6. alison says

      April 15, 2023 at 9:22 am

      5 stars
      love this dish! one question - how long can the sauce last if kept in fridge?

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        April 20, 2023 at 2:27 am

        So glad you're enjoying it, Alison! If you make the sauce ahead of time, store it in the refrigerator and enjoy within a week.

        Reply
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