If you are looking for a fish main course that is easy to cook but full of flavor, make a tuna steak. The tuna fillets are firm and allow you to obtain thin slices that cook quickly while keeping their soft consistency intact. The tuna meat has a fresh and delicate flavor, so you can flavor it as you like. For example, you can use a herb marinade, a spice blend, or teriyaki sauce. After seasoning them, cook the tuna steaks on the barbecue, in the oven or in a pan and get ready to enjoy a fabulous dish within minutes.
Ingrediants
Grilled Tuna Slices with Garlic and Thyme
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons of chopped fresh thyme or half a teaspoon of dried thyme
- 4 tuna steaks about 3 cm thick
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
Yield: 4 servings
Spiced Tuna Slices Cooked in a Pan
- 4 tuna steaks about 2 cm thick
- 4 tablespoons of melted butter
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- Half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon of fennel seeds
- 1/8 teaspoon of ground cloves
Yield: 4 servings
Baked Tuna Steaks in Teriyaki Sauce
- 4 tuna steaks about 2 cm thick
- 4 tablespoons of teriyaki sauce
- 1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger
- Half a teaspoon of salt
Yield: 4 servings
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Grilled Tuna Slices with Garlic and Thyme
Step 1. Combine the marinade items in a resealable food bag
The bag must be large enough to hold the tuna steaks. Open it and pour in two tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Add a mixture of 2 cloves of garlic and 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme. If you don't have fresh thyme, you can use half a teaspoon of dried thyme. Squeeze as much air out of the bag as possible and seal it.
- Shake the bag to mix the ingredients.
- If you prefer, you can use a different marinade or season the tuna with just oil, salt and pepper.
Step 2. Place the tuna steaks in the bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes
The tuna steaks must have a thickness of about 3 cm and should be left to rest in the refrigerator so that they absorb the flavors of the marinade. Seal the bag and turn it upside down a couple of times to distribute the liquid over the tuna steaks.
Do not let the tuna steaks marinate for more than half an hour, otherwise the lemon juice will start to cook the meat giving it an unpleasant texture on the palate
Step 3. Turn on the barbecue
You can use the classic charcoal barbecue or a modern gas barbecue. If you are using a traditional barbecue, fill the ignition chimney and light the charcoal. When the embers are hot and covered with a layer of ash, pour them on one side of the barbecue. If you're using a gas barbecue, set the burners to a medium-high setting.
Turn on the oven grill and let it heat for 5 minutes before cooking the tuna steaks
Variant:
if you want to use the oven grill, set the heat to maximum level and place the tuna steaks about 10 cm away from the coil. Cook them for 3-4 minutes on each side.
Step 4. Remove the tuna steaks from the bag and season with salt and pepper
Take the bag out of the refrigerator and transfer the tuna steaks to a plate. Use ¼ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper and distribute them evenly over the fish.
Throw away the marinade after transferring the tuna steaks to the plate
Step 5. Grease the barbecue grill and cook the tuna steaks
Soak a sheet of kitchen paper in the seed oil, roll it up into a ball, grab it with barbecue tongs and pass it over the grill to lightly grease it. Arrange the 4 tuna steaks on the grill, spaced apart, then close the lid of the barbecue.
If you are using a traditional barbecue, place the tuna steaks on the side of the grill where the embers are placed
Step 6. Cook the tuna steaks for 3-4 minutes.
Set a timer to avoid overcooking them on one side for too long. The underside of the slices should gradually darken as they are directly exposed to heat.
Step 7. Flip the tuna steaks and cook for another 3-4 minutes
Open the lid and gently flip the tuna steaks using the grill tongs on the other side. Close the barbecue and wait for the fish to be completely cooked. The tuna meat must remain slightly pink in the center and on the outer side the individual sections that make up the classic concentric structure of the tuna must begin to flake.
- For medium rare cooking, cook the tuna for about 8 minutes in total. For medium cooking, add 1-2 minutes.
- Do not go beyond medium cooking or the tuna will become dry and stringy.
Step 8. Remove the tuna steaks from the grill and let them rest for 5-10 minutes before serving
Use tongs to carefully transfer them to a serving dish. Let the tuna steaks rest while you prepare the side dishes. You can accompany the tuna with grilled vegetables, couscous or a mixed salad.
If the tuna is left over, you can transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for a couple of days
Method 2 of 3: Spicy Tuna Slices Cooked in a Pan
Step 1. Prepare the spice mixture
Pour and mix the herbs you want to flavor the tuna with in a bowl. Alternatively, you can buy a ready-made spice blend at the grocery store. If you feel like experimenting, try this combination of aromas typical of Cajun cuisine:
- 1 teaspoon of paprika;
- Half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of powdered ginger;
- 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper;
- 1/4 teaspoon of oregano;
- 1/4 teaspoon of fennel seeds;
- 1/8 teaspoon of ground cloves.
Step 2. Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat
The ideal is to use a cast iron pan or grill. Let it heat on the stove for at least 5 minutes before adding the tuna steaks.
The cast iron must begin to smoke. Open the window or turn on the hood to keep the room from filling up with smoke as you cook
Step 3. Brush the 4 tuna steaks with melted butter before sprinkling them with spices
Dip the bristles of a pastry brush in melted butter (60 ml) and grease the tuna steaks. Turn them to butter on the other side as well, then sprinkle them with the spice mixture on both sides.
Press the spices onto the tuna with your fingers to make them adhere well
Variant:
the typical spices of Cajun cuisine go perfectly with tuna, but feel free to use any flavorings you prefer. If you want, you can also season the slices with only oil, salt and pepper.
Step 4. Place the tuna steaks in the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes
Arrange them so they don't touch each other. In contact with the hot cast iron, the butter should start to sizzle immediately. After 1 1/2 or 2 minutes, flip the tuna steaks over to the other side carefully, then let them cook for another 90-120 seconds.
If you don't hear the butter sizzle, turn up the heat
Step 5. Remove the tuna steaks from the pan and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving
When they are well browned on the outside and the individual sections that make up the classic concentric structure of tuna begin to flake, turn off the stove. Transfer the slices to a serving dish and let them rest for 5 minutes so that the residual heat finishes cooking. Accompany the tuna with a side dish of your choice.
- You can accompany the tuna steaks with rice and red beans or with baked potatoes.
- Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They will last a couple of days.
Suggestion:
the tuna meat must remain pink in the center. If you prefer it firmer, extend the cooking time for a couple of minutes.
Method 3 of 3: Baked Tuna Slices in Teriyaki Sauce
Step 1. Heat the oven
Before turning it on, place one of the fillings halfway up, then set it to 230 ° C and let it warm up. Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Step 2. Combine the teriyaki sauce, ginger and salt
Pour 60ml teriyaki sauce into a bowl, then add 1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger and half a teaspoon of salt. Stir to mix the ingredients and dissolve the salt.
If you don't have fresh ginger, you can replace it with half a teaspoon of powdered ginger
Step 3. Arrange the tuna steaks in the pan and brush them with the sauce
Dab them with kitchen paper to make sure they are dry before transferring them to the tin lined pan. Sprinkle them with the sauce on both sides using a pastry brush.
Step 4. Cook the tuna steaks for 6-8 minutes
Place the pan in the hot oven and wait for the outer sections that make up the classic concentric structure of tuna begin to flake. Keep in mind that the meat should remain slightly pink in the center.
It is not necessary to turn the slices when you bake them in the oven
Suggestion:
calculate 4 minutes of cooking for each centimeter of thickness of the slices. For example, if the steaks are 1 1/2 centimeters thick, 6 minutes of cooking should suffice.
Step 5. Let the tuna steaks rest for 5 minutes before serving
In the meantime, take care of the side dishes. Baked tuna goes well with steamed rice and grilled vegetables. If you like to experiment with unusual combinations, try accompanying it with pineapple.
