Perfectly seared ahi tuna with a sesame seed crust and paired with vibrant crunchy sesame kale salad is simply unbeatable and ready to go in just 15 minutes. This healthy, delicious seared tuna and kale salad recipe is flavorful and incredibly easy to make.
This amazingly simple recipe for seared ahi tuna comes to you from one of our favorite spots when we first began dating, Firebirds. My husband and I used to order this delightful appetizer back in the day, oh the memories!
Those evenings were filled with endless laughter and conversations, and every bite of that exquisite ahi tuna brought us closer together.
Today, I’m thrilled to bring that experience to our home and with an easy and incredibly delicious recipe for perfectly seared ahi tuna with sesame kale salad. While seared ahi tuna may seem intimidating at first, trust me — this recipe is straightforward and delivers restaurant-quality results right in your kitchen.
seared ahi tuna is the perfect date night dish
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just starting, this recipe is perfect for a cozy date night at home. The combination of the rich, flavorful ahi tuna and the vibrant, crunchy sesame kale salad is simply unbeatable. Let’s dive in!
ingredients
To make this easy seared ahi tuna recipe and sesame kale salad recipe you’ll need a few ingredients that you can get at almost any grocery store or even online!
Here’s what we are working with:
sesame-crusted ahi tuna
- ahi tuna steaks – we love SizzleFish Sushi Grade Yellowfin Tuna (Ahi)
- soy sauce
- sesame oil
- olive oil
- rice vinegar
- grated ginger
- garlic
- sesame seeds
sesame kale salad
- kale
- shredded carrots
- red bell pepper
- cucumber
- cilantro leaves
dressing
- soy sauce
- rice vinegar
- sesame oil
- honey or maple syrup
- grated ginger
- garlic
- sriracha sauce
- toasted sesame seeds
how to make perfectly seared ahi tuna and sesame kale salad
seared ahi tuna
Marinate the Tuna: In a shallow dish, mix together the soy sauce, sesame oil, olive oil, rice vinegar, grated ginger, and minced garlic. Place ahi tuna steaks in the dish and turn to coat them in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes (up to 1 hour).
Prepare for Searing: Remove the tuna steaks from the marinade. Press the tuna steaks into the sesame seeds to coat them evenly on all sides. Season with salt and pepper.
Sear the Tuna: Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add a bit of olive oil to the pan to prevent sticking. Once hot, add the tuna steaks. Sear them for about 1-2 minutes on each side for rare to medium-rare (longer if you prefer more well done). The outside should be nicely browned, and the inside should remain pink. Remove from the pan and let rest for a minute before slicing thinly.
sesame kale salad
Mix the Salad: In a large bowl, place finely chopped kale with a little bit of olive oil and pinch of salt. Add the shredded carrots, sliced red bell pepper, sliced cucumber, and cilantro leaves. Toss to combine.
Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey or maple syrup, grated ginger, minced garlic, sriracha, and toasted sesame seeds.
Dress the Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to coat all the ingredients evenly.
Assembly
Plate the Salad: Divide the kale salad among plates or a large serving platter.
Add the Tuna: Arrange the sliced seared ahi tuna over the salad.
Garnish: Sprinkle some additional toasted sesame seeds on top and a few cilantro leaves for garnish.
enjoy!
Every bite of this dish takes me back to those magical date nights at Firebirds. The flavors are spot on, and it’s such a satisfying feeling to recreated something so meaningful at home. This recipe is not only a feast for the senses but also a beautiful reminder of cherished moments.
So, set the table for a date night at home, light some candles, and enjoy this easy, perfectly seared ahi tuna with your special someone. Bon appetit!
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If you have any questions or comments, feel free leave them below. I answer every single question as quickly as I can.
Happy cooking! And thanks for being part of our tribe, The Tasteful Tribe!
ENJOY!
Easy Perfectly Seared Ahi Tuna (With Sesame Kale Salad)
- DFDairy-Free
- GFGluten-Free
- LCLow Carb
- SFSugar Free
Ingredients
for the seared ahi tuna
- 2 ahi tuna steaks, fresh, about 6-8 oz each
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- sesame seeds, optional, for coating
- salt and pepper, to taste
for the kale salad
- 4 cups kale, finely chopped (stems removed)
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- ½ cup cucumber, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves, finely chopped
for the sesame dressing
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1 tsp sriracha sauce , more or less, optional for heat
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
for the seared ahi tuna
- Marinate the Tuna: In a shallow dish, mix together the soy sauce, sesame oil, olive oil, rice vinegar, grated ginger, and minced garlic. Place ahi tuna steaks in the dish and turn to coat them in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes (up to 1 hour).
- Prepare for Searing: Remove the tuna steaks from the marinade. Press the tuna steaks into the sesame seeds to coat them evenly on all sides. Season with salt and pepper.
- Sear the Tuna: Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add a bit of olive oil to the pan to prevent sticking. Once hot, add the tuna steaks. Sear them for about 1-2 minutes on each side for rare to medium-rare (longer if you prefer more well done). The outside should be nicely browned, and the inside should remain pink. Remove from the pan and let rest for a minute before slicing thinly.
for the sesame kale salad
- Mix the Salad: In a large bowl, place finely chopped kale with a little bit of olive oil and pinch of salt. Add the shredded carrots, sliced red bell pepper, sliced cucumber, and cilantro leaves. Toss to combine.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey or maple syrup, grated ginger, minced garlic, sriracha, and toasted sesame seeds.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to coat all the ingredients evenly.
assembly
- Plate the Salad: Divide the kale salad among plates or a large serving platter.
- Add the Tuna: Arrange the sliced seared ahi tuna over the salad.
- Garnish: Sprinkle some additional toasted sesame seeds on top and a few cilantro leaves for garnish.
Equipment
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