14 Fresh Tuna Recipes That Are Ready in a Flash (2024)

Fresh tuna may feel like a fish that's best enjoyed when ordered at a delicious sushi spot or a high-end seafood restaurant, but there's no reason why you can't cook it at home. Here, you'll find simple preparations of grilled and seared tuna that can be turned into rice bowls, skewers, or served alongside a crisp salad.

When shopping for fresh tuna, be sure to choose a responsibly-caught option (you can always ask the fishmonger at your local market or grocery store for more complete sourcing information). Ahi tuna—also known as yellowfin tuna—is the premier fresh tuna choice and you'll find it available in loins and steaks. Our recipes will always specify exactly which cut you need.

When working with good-quality fresh tuna, the key is to prepare it so that it's just cooked on the outside but still rare and fully pink-red on the inside. Fresh tuna has a very firm, meaty texture that's similar to mahi mahi or swordfish and offers a relatively mild flavor. It can also be expensive, so you'll best be able to appreciate the flavor when it is served rare.

Ahead, you'll find recipes where fresh tuna is served seared and dressed simply with sesame seeds, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Enjoy it on its own with a crisp white wine for a light, delicious meal you'll crave all summer long. Of course, we also have plenty of low-key weeknight specials that include tuna rice bowls, tuna steaks served with salads and grilled vegetables, fish skewers, and more. All of these fresh tuna recipes come together quickly—and they're guaranteed to be the start of the show whenever you prepare them.

17 Canned Tuna Recipes That Aren't Just Tuna Melts or Casseroles

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Sesame-Crusted Tuna Tataki

14 Fresh Tuna Recipes That Are Ready in a Flash (1)

It takes no time at all to put together this stunning fresh tuna dish that you can serve as an elegant appetizer or impressive main course over a bed of sticky rice. The fish is seared until it's cooked on the outside but perfectly pink on the inside.

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Seared Tuna Taco Bowl

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This weeknight-friendly fresh tuna recipe comes together in 45 minutes and is bursting with color and flavor from tuna steaks, shredded red cabbage, black beans, cilantro, and sliced watermelon radishes.

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Bluefin Tuna With Olive, Cucumber, and Cilantro Relish

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Did someone say summer dining? Seared tuna steaks are the perfect partner for this crunchy, briny relish made of olives, cucumbers, and fresh cilantro for this fresh meal that's just right to serve al fresco.

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Brown Rice With Tuna, Avocado, and Toasted Nori

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Craving sushi? Give this rice bowl a try. It's topped with all of our favorite hand-roll ingredients: seared tuna, crunchy cucumber, creamy avocado, and toasted nori.

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Grilled Tuna With Mediterranean Chopped Salad

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Turn traditional Niçoise salad on its ear by tossing the potatoes, green beans, and tomatoes together and serving them alongside grilled tuna steaks. Briny Kalamata olives and umami-rich anchovies add extra oomph.

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Tuna Steaks With Lemony Tomatoes and Onion

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Sear tuna steaks just until browned on the outside but still deep-red in the center, then serve with a salad of sweet cherry tomatoes and red onion seasoned with lemon juice for an easy, colorful accompaniment.

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Seared Tuna With Tomatoes and Basil

This entrée starts by searing cubes of tuna in a hot skillet, then simmering them in a rustic sauce made from caramelized onions, cherry tomatoes, white wine, and basil. The dish is excellent over soft polenta or simply served with crusty bread.

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Tuna Steaks With Mint Sauce

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You'll want to try this genius trick for cooking tuna: Sprinkling salt in the skillet before cooking the prevents the fish from sticking without using oil. Here, we're serving the tuna steaks with a herby sauce of mint, garlic, lemon, and olive oil; it's similar to gremolata but with mint in place of the usual parsley.

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Seared Tuna Steaks With Sesame Oil

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Rice vinegar and toasted sesame oil seasoned with grated ginger and sliced scallions make a quick and tasty sauce for eggplant and seared tuna steaks. Steaming followed by sautéing makes the eggplant tender and delicious.

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Grilled Tuna Skewers

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Cubes of yellowfin tuna absorb the bright flavors of lime juice and cilantro in a quick marinade before hitting the grill. This healthy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare.

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Tuna With Orange-Pepper Salsa

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Create a fresh, flavorful salsa with navel oranges, red bell pepper, red onion, and fresh mint, then spoon over coriander-spiced grilled tuna steaks for a sublime supper.

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Tuna Cakes With Arugula-Tomato Salad

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Ready in just 30 minutes, this simple recipe is ideal for last-minute weeknight dinners. Serve the tuna cakes and salad side by side or enjoy both in a wrap or sandwich.

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Sesame Seared Tuna With Ginger-Carrot Dipping Sauce

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Black and white sesame seeds give fresh tuna a crunchy and satisfying coating. Serve with a toasty, salty-sweet dipping sauce made of mirin, white miso, carrot juice, and ginger.

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Rosemary Tuna With White Beans

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Fresh herbs and earthy kale come together in this easy fresh tuna recipe. The combo is paired with canned white beans, creating a filling and fiber-rich dish.

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14 Fresh Tuna Recipes That Are Ready in a Flash (2024)

FAQs

How should fresh tuna be cooked? ›

Brush the tuna steaks lightly with oil, and season. Put the tuna steaks into a heated frying pan over a high heat and allow to cook for 1-2 mins, depending on how thick the tuna steaks are. Turn the tuna over and cook for 1-2 mins on the other side.

What can I mix with a can of tuna? ›

To keep it hot, mix a can into pasta sauce as you heat it; we love tuna in a classic tomato sauce, but you can also go simple with a no-cook sauce, combing tuna with olive oil, capers, olives, and herbs for a salsa verde approach. Or you can stir it into mac-and-cheese for a creamy, tuna casserole.

What is the dark red part of the tuna? ›

What is the black or dark red on tuna and swordfish and is it okay to eat? That dark, nearly black area in the middle of your tuna or swordfish steak is nothing bad or unhealthy, although you may not like its strong flavor. It is a muscle that is rich in myoglobin, a blood pigment.

Is fresh tuna OK to eat raw? ›

Eating raw tuna increases the risk of Salmonella infection. Most people infected with salmonella after eating tuna will show symptoms such as: diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps... after 12 to 72 hours. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days and goes away on its own without treatment.

What to mix with tuna to make it taste better? ›

If you're not interested in a formal recipe, you can bring a can of tuna to life using this simple formula: Simply swap your regular mayo for a combo of mustard and Greek yogurt and use a fork to mix it with your tuna. Next, throw in any salty (capers or chopped pickles, anyone?) or sweet (grapes, perhaps?)

What flavors go well with tuna? ›

Cheating a little by adding some herbs and lemons into it, here goes!
  • Lemon pepper.
  • Smoked paprika.
  • Turmeric.
  • Turmeric and oregano.
  • Basil and lemon.
  • Cumin and black pepper.
  • Cayenne pepper flakes and oregano.
  • Tarragon and paprika.
Jun 16, 2021

Is it OK to eat egg and tuna together? ›

The answer is YES and you should. Tuna and egg salad is basically a combination of classic tuna salad and classic egg salad. It's made with canned tuna, hard-boiled eggs, and the most delicious and tangy sauce to really bring it all together into one dish.

What can I add to tuna instead of mayo? ›

When you're ready to elevate your next lunch or dinner, here are 12 delicious substitutes for mayo in your tuna salad.
  1. Greek yogurt. Maslova Valentina/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Avocado. Irina Rostokina/Shutterstock. ...
  3. Hummus. Tempura/Getty Images. ...
  4. Olive oil. Maryia_K/Shutterstock. ...
  5. Dijon mustard. ...
  6. Ranch dressing. ...
  7. Sour cream. ...
  8. Cottage cheese.
Jan 24, 2024

Can you have 2 cans of tuna in one sitting? ›

Since tuna is relatively high in mercury, one can per day would bring you to the FDA suggested maximum amount of mercury. Having more than that on occasion may not be a problem, but you are at risk of getting low dose sustained mercury poisoning.

Can dogs eat tuna? ›

Is canned tuna good for dogs? Yes, you can feed your dog canned tuna, as long as you do so in moderation and only infrequently, and you choose the version that's packed in fresh water instead of oil or salted water. It's also important to check the label and make sure there is no extra salt added to the canned tuna.

What color is bad raw tuna? ›

Here are some tips to help you tell if raw tuna is not fresh and should not be eaten: Look: Fresh tuna should be a vibrant red color throughout. Avoid tuna that looks dull, grayish, or brownish. Smell: Fresh tuna should have a mild, fresh ocean-like scent.

What is the most expensive tuna? ›

The record-breaking $3.1 million tuna was bought by the owner of a popular sushi chain in Japan. The average price for a whole bluefin tuna in Japan in 2018 was around $20,000. Young tunas are worth a fraction of the price of mature specimens, and are often sold for as little as $40 per fish in Japan.

Should tuna be medium or well done? ›

When cooked all the way through, tuna tends to dry out, so I wouldn't order it past medium; whereas, the fat in salmon keeps it moist even when well done. If you are still not sure what you prefer or how to order your fish, one reply that is a good bet is “however the chef recommends it.”

Is tuna supposed to be cooked rare? ›

Just like a beef steak, tuna steak can be served from extremely rare to well done. Consider cooking times depending on how you prefer your tuna to be served. The centre of the steak should still be pink – be careful not to overcook it or the fish will be dry.

Does fresh tuna need to be cooked? ›

Fresh tuna is one of the many types of fish that can be eaten raw. The cooking process changes the taste and texture, rendering it less flavorful. If fresh tuna is to be cooked, it should be done with a dry heat method like grilling or pan-frying.

Should tuna be cooked medium? ›

Tuna steaks need a watchful eye during cooking to remain tender and moist. Don't be turned off if your tuna looks medium-rare, whether you're baking tuna steak, skillet-cooking tuna steak, or grilling it. Because tuna steaks get dry and chewy when overcooked, the center should still be pink when it's done cooking.

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