Want to make a plate of very rich seafood? Try cooking tuna fillets, which are generally sold in thin enough slices that they cook quickly without losing their natural texture. Since the natural taste of tuna isn't too strong, you can add various spices to your liking! For example, tuna can be pre-soaked in a garlic and herb mixture, coated with “black seasoning”, or slathered in teriyaki sauce before cooking. Then, the seasoned tuna can be grilled right away, in a very hot skillet, or in the oven for a few minutes!
Ingredients
Grilled Tuna with Garlic and Herbs
- 2 tbsp. lemon juice
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp. dry thyme
- 4 tuna fish fillets about 2.5 cm thick
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. ground pepper
For: 4 servings
Black Seasoned Tuna Cooked with Pan-Seared Technique
- 4 tuna fish fillets about 2 cm thick
- 4 tbsp. melted butter
- 1 tsp. paprika powder
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp. ground ginger or ginger that has been mashed
- 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. oregano
- 1/4 tsp. Fennel seeds
- 1/8 tsp. clove powder or cloves that have been mashed
For: 4 servings
Oven Baked Teriyaki Sauce Tuna
- 4 pieces of tuna fish fillet, about 2 cm thick
- 4 tbsp. teriyaki sauce
- 1 tsp. fresh grated ginger
- 1/2 tsp. salt
For: 4 servings
Step
Method 1 of 3: Grilling Tuna with Garlic and Herbs
Step 1. Combine lemon juice, oil, garlic, and thyme in a plastic bag
Open the plastic clip bag, then pour 2 tbsp. lemon juice and 1 tbsp. olive oil in it. Then, add chopped 2 cloves of garlic and 2 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves. Remove the remaining air from the bag, then close the bag tightly.
- Shake the bag to mix all the ingredients in it well.
- If you prefer, you can use a combination of other ingredients or simply season the tuna with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Step 2. Place the tuna fillets in the bag, then refrigerate the bag for 30 minutes
Prepare 4 pieces of tuna fish fillet with a thickness of about 2.5 cm, then put the four pieces of fish into a plastic bag filled with spices. Close the bag tightly, then shake gently so that the entire surface of the fish is well coated with the seasoning.
Do not soak the fish for more than 30 minutes as the acid in the lemon juice can make the fish mushy
Step 3. Heat a gas grill or charcoal grill over medium to high heat
If you're using a gas grill, you can immediately heat it over medium to high heat. If you're using a charcoal grill, you'll need to first burn the charcoal in a bowl, then place the hot, ash-covered charcoal on one side of the grill.
If you want to use a broiler, don't forget to heat the broiler for about 5 minutes before using it for grilling the tuna
Variation:
If you want to broil fish with a broiler, turn the broiler on to maximum temperature, then place the tuna about 10 cm below the heat source. Then, bake each side of the tuna for 3 to 4 minutes.
Step 4. Remove the tuna fillets from the seasoning bag, then season them again with salt and pepper
First, remove the bag containing the tuna and marinade from the refrigerator, then pour the contents onto a plate. After that, sprinkle the surface of the fish with 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. ground pepper to enhance the taste.
Discard any remaining marinade after removing the tuna fillet from the bag
Step 5. Grease the grill bars with oil, then place all the fish pieces on top
To make the process easier, try dipping a paper towel in a bowl of vegetable oil and then forming it into a ball. After that, pinch the ball with food tongs, then spread it all over the grill grill. Then, arrange the fish pieces on the grill bars without touching them, and cover the grill.
If using a charcoal grill, the fish filets can be placed directly over the charcoal
Step 6. Bake the tuna for 3 to 4 minutes
If necessary, set a timer to make sure the tuna doesn't bake for too long! Ideally, the tuna is cooked when the heat-affected surface has turned brown.
Step 7. Flip the tuna and bake the other side for 3 to 4 minutes
Once one side of the tuna is half cooked, carefully open the grill cover and turn the tuna over with tongs. Then, close the grill again to finish the tuna roasting process for 3 to 4 minutes. The edges of the tuna should look a little crumbly, but the center is still a little pink.
- If you prefer a medium-rare steak, try grilling the whole side of the tuna for 8 minutes. If you prefer medium-cooked steaks, increase the roasting time by 1 to 2 minutes.
- It is better not to grill the tuna until it is completely cooked so that the texture of the meat does not become too dry and crumbly when eaten.
Step 8. Remove the tuna steaks from the grill and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving
Use food tongs to transfer the cooked tuna steaks from the grill bars onto a serving plate. While preparing the desired side dish, rest the tuna steak. Try serving tuna steaks with grilled vegetables, couscous, or veggie lettuce.
Place leftover steaks in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days
Method 2 of 3: Cooking Tuna with the Pan-Seared Technique
Step 1. Mix all ingredients to make black seasoning
In fact, black seasoning or "blackening seasoning" can be purchased at various supermarkets that sell imported ingredients. However, you can also make your own at home! To make it, mix the following ingredients in a bowl:
- 1 tsp. paprika powder
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp. ground ginger or mashed ginger
- 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. oregano
- 1/4 tsp. Fennel seeds
- 1/8 tsp. powdered cloves or crushed cloves
Step 2. Heat a skillet or flat grill over medium heat
Place a cast-iron skillet, other heavy-bottomed skillet, or grill on the stove and heat it over medium to high heat for 5 minutes before using it for grilling the fish.
The pan or grill should look smoky once it's hot. Therefore, do not forget to open the kitchen window or turn on the smoker on the stove so that the smoke does not fill your home
Step 3. Brush the surface of 4 pieces of tuna fish fillet with melted butter, then sprinkle with the prepared seasoning mixture
First, dip a bread brush in 56 grams of melted butter, then spread the butter on one side of the fish. Then, turn the fish over and grease the other side as well. After that, sprinkle the entire surface of the fish with the seasoning mixture that you have prepared.
After the seasoning, gently massage the fish to allow the spices to adhere better to the surface
Variation:
If you don't want to use black seasoning, you can apply another combination of spices to the surface of the fish or simply pour a mixture of olive oil, salt, and pepper all over the fish.
Step 4. Place the fish on the surface of the hot skillet and bake for 3 to 4 minutes
Make sure each piece of fish does not touch each other, yes! The pan should make a hissing sound when the fish meat hits its hot surface. After that, broil one side of the fish for 1½ to 2 minutes before turning, then cook the other side for the same amount of time.
If the pan doesn't sizzle when the fish is added, try turning the heat up
Step 5. Drain the cooked tuna steak, and rest for 5 minutes before serving
When the surface of the fish turns golden brown and the edges look crumbly, turn off the heat. Then, transfer the tuna steaks to a serving plate and rest for 5 minutes to complete the cooking process. Then, immediately serve the tuna steak with a variety of favorite side dishes.
- Try serving tuna steaks with kidney beans and rice, or baked potatoes.
- Place leftover steaks in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Tips:
When cooked, the inside of the steak should still be slightly pink. If you prefer a denser, perfectly cooked steak, bake each side for 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Method 3 of 3: Baking Tuna in the Oven
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 232°C and line the baking sheet with aluminum foil
First, move the grill rack to the center of the oven, then preheat the oven to 232°C. While waiting for the oven to heat up, prepare a toothed baking sheet, then line the surface with a sheet of aluminum foil.
Step 2. Combine the teriyaki sauce, ginger and salt
Pour in 4 tbsp. teriyaki sauce into a small bowl, then add 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger and 1/2 tsp, salt into it. Stir until all ingredients are well mixed.
If you don't have fresh ginger, try using 1/2 tsp. powdered ginger
Step 3. Arrange 4 pieces of tuna fish fillet on a baking sheet, then coat the surface with teriyaki sauce
Previously, pat the surface of the fish with paper towels to dry it, then arrange the fish on a baking sheet, and coat the entire surface with the teriyaki sauce evenly.
Step 4. Bake the tuna fillets for 6 to 8 minutes
Place the tuna fillet in the preheated oven, then grill the fish until the edges look crumbly. Remember, the center of the steak should still be slightly pink and not overcooked.
Tuna does not need to be turned over when grilling
Tips:
In general, fish filets 1 cm thick should bake for 4 to 6 minutes. That is, if the thickness of the filet you are using is only 1 cm, try grilling it for 5 minutes.
Step 5. Rest the steak for 5 minutes, then serve with a variety of favorite side dishes
Delicious tuna steak eaten with warm white rice, grilled vegetables and fresh pineapple chunks.
