Seared Ahi Tuna Steaks

Prep: 5 mins + marination | Cook: 5 mins | Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

• 2 ahi tuna (yellowfin tuna) steaks (about 4 oz. each, 1" thick - see notes for thinner or thicker)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil see notes
• 1 tablespoon honey see notes
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 tablespoon canola oil or olive oil
• green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and lime wedges for serving (optional)

Instructions

• Pat the ahi tuna steaks dry with a paper towel. Place on a plate or inside a plastic bag.
• Mix the soy sauce (2 tablespoons), toasted sesame oil (1 tablespoon), honey (1 tablespoon) kosher salt (1/2 teaspoon- OMIT if marinating for more than a couple hours, see notes), pepper (1/4 teaspoon), and cayenne pepper (1/4 teaspoon) until honey is fully dissolved. Pour over the ahi tuna steaks and turn over to coat completely. Optional: allow to marinate for at least 10 minutes, or up to overnight in the refrigerator. Also optional: Reserve a spoonful or two of the marinade before coating the fish for drizzling on top after you've cooked it.
• Heat a medium skillet (preferably non-stick or a well-seasoned cast iron skillet) on medium-high to high until very hot ( or medium medium-high for nonstick). I recommend giving cast iron 3-5 minutes to get hot and nonstick about 1 minute, depending on how thick it is.
• Add the canola oil (1 tablespoon) to the hot pan. Sear the tuna for 1 - 1½ minutes on each side for medium rare ( 2 -2½ minutes for medium-well to well, 30 seconds for very rare. See notes - this will vary based on thickness of the tuna steaks). (Note: different burners get hotter depending on your stove. Use your best judgement whether you use medium, medium-high, or high heat, as the marinade may burn if too high heat is used)
• Remove to a cutting board. Slice into 1/2 inch slices and serve garnished with green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice, if desired.

Notes

• For thinner or thicker tuna steaks, you may need less or more searing time. If you are using tuna steaks that are less than 1 inch, I recommend no more than 1 minute per side, depending on your preference for doneness. For thicker steaks, you may need to do 2 minutes per side. You may also need less searing time depending on the temperature of your fish- if it's been sitting out of the fridge for a while, it will take less time to cook.