Seared ahi tuna shines in a simple 6-ingredient ponzu sauce. Serve with white rice on the side for a light, sushi-like meal any time the craving strikes.
If you can’t think of an occasion special enough to make this, just wait for a gorgeous chunk of tuna to show up at the fish market: that’s as special as it gets! Cook it up for anyone in your life who loves sushi.
Table of Contents
Ingredient notes
- Mirin: If you can’t find Mirin (a sweet Japanese cooking wine), substitute 2 tablespoons white wine or rice vinegar + 1 teaspoon sugar.
- Brown sugar: Start with 1 tablespoon and add more to the ponzu sauce to taste, if desired.
- Cayenne pepper: Add to taste or omit entirely.
- Ahi tuna: Also known as yellowfin tuna or bigeye tuna. Fresh tuna will be red or pink in color and will usually come in a giant loin that gets cut as it’s requested. If you can only find pre-cut pieces of tuna, look for tuna steaks that are moist and shiny with barely translucent meat. If the steaks look dull, brown, or if the muscle starts to separate into flakes, the fish isn’t fresh. Fresh tuna smells like the sea; if it smells too “fishy,” pass.
Step-by-step instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, lemon juice, lime juice, mirin, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper. Divide sauce in half and reserve half the sauce for dipping.
- Coat the tuna steaks in remaining ponzu sauce and marinate for at least one hour.
- In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Remove tuna steaks from marinade, wipe off excess, and add to skillet without moving. Sear 1 to 2 minutes per side for rare.
- Transfer to cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Slice into 1/4-inch slices and garnish with scallions. Serve with white rice and reserved ponzu sauce for dipping.
Recipe tips and variations
- A different fish: Try Mahi Mahi, sea bass, cod, or even salmon. You may prefer to cook these fish a bit more thoroughly in this recipe, however, depending on your personal taste.
- Storage: Ideally, you should prepare and eat the ahi tuna on the same day you buy it. If that’s not possible, carry the fish home over ice and store it dry, wrapped in butcher paper and placed in a zip-top bag in the refrigerator over ice. The deep color that ahi is known for is temperature and water sensitive. Stored that way, the fish should keep for up to two days.
- Grilled: Preheat the grill on high and grill the tuna directly on the grates, searing 1-2 minutes per side, or in a grill-safe pan, prepared according to the recipe.
More delicious fish recipes
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Grilled Fish Tacos with Cabbage Slaw Recipe
Appetizer Recipes
Tilapia Ceviche Recipe
Grilling and Smoker Recipes
Smoked Salmon
Fish and Seafood Recipes
Grilled Swordfish Recipe
Ahi Tuna with Ponzu Sauce
Seared ahi tuna shines in a simple 6-ingredient ponzu sauce. Serve with white rice on the side for a light, sushi-like meal any time the craving strikes.
Ingredients
For the Ponzu Sauce:
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2-3 lemons)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 1-2 limes)
- 2 tablespoons mirin (see note 1)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar plus more to taste (see note 2)
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (see note 3)
For the Ahi Tuna:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 (8 ounce) ahi tuna steaks (about ¾ of an inch thick, see note 4)
- Scallions for garnish
- cooked rice for serving
Instructions
To make the Ponzu Sauce:
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, lemon juice, lime juice, mirin, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper. Divide sauce in half and reserve half the sauce for dipping.
To make the Ahi Tuna:
- Coat the tuna steaks in remaining ponzu sauce and marinate for at least one hour.
- In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Remove tuna steaks from marinade, wipe off excess, and add to skillet without moving. Sear 1 to 2 minutes per side for rare.
- Transfer to cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Slice into 1/4-inch slices and garnish with scallions. Serve with white rice and reserved ponzu sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Mirin: If you can’t find Mirin (a sweet Japanese cooking wine), substitute 2 tablespoons white wine or rice vinegar + 1 teaspoon sugar.
- Brown sugar: Start with 1 tablespoon and add more to the ponzu sauce to taste, if desired.
- Cayenne pepper: Add to taste or omit entirely.
- Ahi tuna: Also known as yellowfin tuna or bigeye tuna. Fresh tuna will be red or pink in color and will usually come in a giant loin that gets cut as it’s requested. If you can only find pre-cut pieces of tuna, look for tuna steaks that are moist and shiny with barely translucent meat. If the steaks look dull, brown, or if the muscle starts to separate into flakes, the fish isn’t fresh. Fresh tuna smells like the sea; if it smells too “fishy,” pass.
- A different fish: Try Mahi Mahi, sea bass, cod, or even salmon. You may prefer to cook these fish a bit more thoroughly in this recipe, however, depending on your personal taste.
- Storage: Ideally, you should prepare and eat the ahi tuna on the same day you buy it. If that’s not possible, carry the fish home over ice and store it dry, wrapped in butcher paper and placed in a zip-top bag in the refrigerator over ice. The deep color that ahi is known for is temperature and water sensitive. Stored that way, the fish should keep for up to two days.
- Grilled: Preheat the grill on high and grill the tuna directly on the grates, searing 1-2 minutes per side, or in a grill-safe pan, prepared according to the recipe.
Nutrition
Serving: 4ouncesCalories: 235kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 29gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 1190mgPotassium: 342mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 2501IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 2mg
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Recipe recipe?
Sometimes I wonder who works here (it’s me 🥴). I’m fixing it. Sorry about that. -Meggan
Yellow fin tuna. Not yellow tail.
This was amazing. Beautiful. It was healthy with so much umami. I can’t thank you enough for such a healthy clean tasting Japanese meal. I made it with steamed white rice along with steamed asparagus topped with wasabi mayo. I love my steak and my fish as rare as possible. And this fit the bill. Yummy yummy…..
This is my favorite way to eat tuna – so fresh and light on a hot day! We make it on the grill. Thanks for the recipe, the ponzu sauce is just perfect.