It’s officially grilling season and my grilled ahi tuna steaks are the perfect addition to your dinner rotation!
Grilled ahi tuna is the perfect spring or summertime meal and pairs well with so many different side dishes! And, it cooks so quickly, it’s a perfect weeknight option!
Grilled tuna steaks are so flavorful
I feel like tuna steaks don’t get the attention they deserve, and especially grilled ahi tuna steaks. There’s so many different flavor combos you can pair them with.
What’s the difference: ahi vs albacore tuna?
Albacore tuna is the most frequently found tuna in stores, lighter in color, and milder in flavor. It’s sometimes labeled as “white tuna” as well. Ahi tuna, also known as yellowfin tuna, is typically higher in quality and better suited for searing, grilling, or served raw for sushi or poke bowls.
Should you worry about ahi tuna mercury levels
Ahi tuna is considered a high mercury fish and should be eaten sparingly and no more than one time per week.
Best tuna steak seasoning
The best seasoning for a simple ahi tuna recipe is some soy sauce, garlic and sesame seeds in my opinion. But if you want a strictly dry seasoning for your grilled ahi tuna, I recommend some salt, pepper, garlic powder, and ginger. It’s perfection!
The easiest tuna marinade
And, if you want the perfect marinade for your grilled ahi tuna steaks, look no further than the recipe below.
Grilled ahi tuna recipe
Now let’s get into how to grill ahi tuna steaks.
First, combine the soy sauce, green onions, lemon juice, garlic, and sesame oil in a bowl and whisk them all together well.
Then, add your ahi tuna steaks to a large plastic bag. Pour the marinade you just whisked together into the bag and seal it tight, pressing out all of the air as you close it.
Lay the bag flat and make sure the marinade is coating all of the tuna steaks. Let them marinate for about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, spread the sesame seeds on a plate in a flat even layer. Remove the tuna steaks from the bag and press each one into the sesame seeds making sure all of the sides are coated.
How to grill ahi tuna
Now, we’re ready to actually grill the ahi tuna!
How to grill ahi tuna on a gas grill
For a gas grill, you’ll want to set your grill to high heat, or about 400 degrees. Before you start the grill, spray the grates with your preferred high temperature cooking oil spray and then set the temperature and let it heat.
How long to grill ahi tuna
Once your grill is heated, you’ll place your ahi tuna steaks on the grill and cook for about 3 minutes on each side. Since, grilled ahi tuna is often served rare the chef recommended tuna cooking temp is about 125 degrees F.
Grilled Sesame Ahi Tuna Steak
Equipment
- gas or charcoal grill
Ingredients
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ⅔ cup chopped green onions
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil or other oil of choice
- 4 ~6oz each ahi tuna steaks
- ⅔ cup sesame seeds
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Combine the soy sauce, green onions, lemon juice, garlic, and sesame oil in a bowl and whisk together well.
- Add your ahi tuna steaks to a large plastic bag. Pour all of the marinade (except for 1/4 cup we’ll save for later) you just whisked together into the bag and seal it tight, pressing out all of the air as you do so.
- Lay the bag flat and make sure the marinade is coating all of the tuna steaks. Let them marinate for about 30 minutes.
- Spread the sesame seeds on a plate in a flat even layer. Remove the tuna steaks from the bag and press each one into the sesame seeds making sure all sides are coated.
- Now, it’s time to grill! Spray your grill grates with cooking oil spray. Preheat the grill to high heat. For rare ahi tuna steaks, once the grill is heated, grill the steaks for about 3 minutes on each side.
- Once cooked, garnish with additional green onions and the leftover marinade and enjoy!
One Response
The tuna dish was awsome, we loved it