Description
This Yellowfin Tuna with Sesame Crust and Wasabi Drizzle recipe offers a quick, healthy, and family-friendly meal perfect for weeknights, creating a restaurant-quality dish with minimal effort. The tuna is crusted with sesame seeds and seared, then served with a zesty wasabi, soy, ginger, and rice vinegar drizzle.
Ingredients
- 2 (6 oz / 170g each) fresh yellowfin tuna steaks, about 1-inch thick
- 0.5 cup (70g) sesame seeds
- 3 Tbsp (45ml) low-sodium soy sauce
- 1–2 tsp (5-10g) wasabi paste
- 1 Tbsp (15g) fresh ginger, grated
- 1 Tbsp (15ml) rice vinegar
- 1 Tbsp (15ml) sesame oil, plus extra for cooking
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Sliced green onions, for garnish (optional)
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)
- Extra sprinkle of sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prep the Tuna: Pat yellowfin tuna steaks very dry with paper towels. Lightly season both sides with salt and black pepper.
- Crust the Tuna: Spread sesame seeds evenly on a shallow plate. Gently press each tuna steak into the seeds, coating all sides evenly until no red tuna shows.
- Make the Wasabi Drizzle: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, wasabi paste, grated fresh ginger, rice vinegar, and the tablespoon of sesame oil until smooth and the wasabi is fully dissolved.
- Sear the Tuna: Heat a 10-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat with about a tablespoon of sesame oil. Once the oil shimmers, add the crusted tuna. Sear for 2-3 minutes per side for medium-rare, or longer for more done. Reduce heat if crust burns too quickly.
- Rest and Serve: Transfer seared tuna to a cutting board. Let it rest for a minute. Slice the tuna against the grain into thick pieces. Drizzle generously with the Wasabi Drizzle and serve immediately, optionally garnished with green onions.
Notes
To ensure a crispy crust, pat the tuna very dry before seasoning and coating. Start with a smaller amount of wasabi in the drizzle and add more to taste. Yellowfin tuna cooks quickly, so watch it closely to prevent overcooking; a medium-rare sear is typically 2.5 minutes per side for 1-inch thick steaks. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. For a gluten-free option, use Tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Searing
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tuna steak (approx 170 g)
- Calories: 350 calories
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
Keywords: yellowfin tuna, sesame crust, wasabi drizzle, quick meal, healthy, weeknight dinner, seafood, asian-inspired, easy recipe, seared tuna