This is my take on the more traditional ahi tuna tartare that’s served as an appetizer at restaurants with a little bit of kick. I make it when I’m craving a healthy summer fish dish with a sweet & spicy complement! I also intensify the flavor of sesame by using seeds and cooking the fish in sesame oil. Its pretty healthy dish that can be made quickly and easily. If you’re cooking for one, you can just cut the ingredients in half.
Prep Time 25 minutes + cooking time 5 minutes = total time 30 minutes.
Ingredients for the Tuna Steaks
- 2 3oz ahi tuna steaks (Fish Tip: I like to buy these fresh from the market & cook them they same day, that way I only have to sear them. If you keep the steaks for longer then you’ll need to cook them more thoroughly.)
- 1 tbsp white sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp sesame oil (I love the flavor of La Tourangelle toasted sesame seed oil, its a little pricey but can be used for cooking and salad dressing.)
- fresh ground sea salt & black pepper
Ingredients for the Mango & Avocado Salad
- 1 large ripe mango cut into chunks
- fresh squeezed lime juice from 1 lime
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1 medium ripe avocado cut into chunks
- 1/2 a jalapeno (seeded and finely chopped)
Directions for spicy mango salad
- Throw all salad ingredients into a bowl and gently toss. (Spicy Tip: if want more heat leave the seeds in the jalapeno and chop it up.)
- I like to let the salad sit while I make the steaks, this also melds the sweetness of the mango with the spiciness of the jalapeno.
Directions for tuna steaks
- Coat the tuna steaks with 1 tbsp of the sesame oil
- Sprinkle sesame seeds over them
- Season with ground sea salt & pepper
- Start by heating a medium skillet to medium heat, once the pan is heated reduce the heat to low, and add the other tbsp of sesame oil. (Tip: when you cook with sesame oil you want to cook it with low to medium heat because it heats up very quickly and can splatter & crackle.)
- Once the oil has been heated add the steaks to the pan.
- Sear the steaks on each side for about 3-5 minutes. I like mine pretty rare so I do about 3 minutes max.
- Once the steaks are done top with the spicy mango salad and enjoy!
And let me know how you liked this recipe, there’s more to come! Bon Apetit! 🙂
