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perfectly sesame seared ahi tuna slices on a bed of kale with cucumbers, shredded carrots, and sesame dressings

Easy Perfectly Seared Ahi Tuna (With Sesame Kale Salad)

  • DFDairy-Free
  • GFGluten-Free
  • LCLow Carb
  • SFSugar Free
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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. 
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

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