How to Pan-Fry Ahi Tuna

Tuna steaks require only brief cooking to reach desired doneness.

Ahi tuna, sometimes sold as yellowfin tuna, provides you with tender and succulent tuna steaks. Overcooked tuna steaks become rubbery and flavorless, but pan-frying, or searing, brings out the flavor and texture of the tuna without overcooking it. Use the seared Ahi tuna steaks as a main course or slice them up to add to salads, noodles or rice dishes. Experiment with different seasonings but avoid over-seasoning, as it may cover the natural flavor of the seared tuna. Does this Spark an idea?

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2 tbsp. white or black sesame seeds
1 tsp. black or red pepper
Bowl
1 tbsp. soy sauce
8 ounce Ahi tuna steak
2 tbsp. olive oil
Frying pan
Spatula

Instructions

- 1
  
  Combine the sesame seeds with black or red pepper in a small bowl.
- 2
  
  Dip the tuna steak in the soy sauce. Coat both sides in the sauce, but do not soak or marinate the tuna, as it absorbs the sauce quickly.
- 3
  
  Lay the tuna steak in the bowl of sesame seeds. Press it lightly until the seeds adhere to one side of the steak. Flip it over and coat the other side with sesame seeds.
- 4
  
  Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat until the oil becomes hot and develops a shimmery surface. Lay the tuna steak in the pan.
- 5
  
  Sear the steak for one to four minutes---one minute for rare and four minutes for medium. Flip the steak over with a spatula and sear the other side for the same length of time. Some pink should still be visible on the sides of the steak.