Best Asian Ahi Tuna Panini Recipes

AHI TUNA WITH PONZU SAUCE

Steps:

• 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.

MARINATED SEARED AHI TUNA

Steps:

• Marinade: In a bowl, whisk together the first 7 ingredients to make a marinade. Towel dry tuna steaks and place in a glass or ceramic dish. Pour marinade over the fish, turning to coat well throughout. Cover tightly and chill several hours to overnight; turn fish over at least once in the middle of marinade time.
• Sear: Heat 3 TB oil in a large heavy skillet (aluminum or stainless steel; not nonstick) until oil is smoking. Sear ahi steaks 1 1/2 minutes per side on high heat, taking care to flip carefully with a flat, steel spatula. (If your tuna is less than 1 1/2 inches thick, sear for only 1 minute per side.)
• Rest/Cool: Transfer seared ahi to a large cutting board and let rest/cool 10 minutes. Use a very sharp (serrated works well) knife to slice thinly across the grain.
• Serve: Serve chilled or at room temp, over your favorite salad greens or crispy Asian salad. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and cilantro or green onions, if desired. Drizzle with Sriracha mayo if desired.

SEARED AHI TUNA WITH ASIAN SLAW

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cabbages, green beans, red bell pepper, pickled ginger, and cilantro. Cover and refrigerate.
• In a small saucepan heat the canola oil to 325 degrees F and carefully fry the wonton strips for 3 to 4 seconds, until golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the strips to a paper towel to drain. Set aside.
• For the dressing:
• In a blender or food processor, blend together the ginger, green onion, garlic, and cilantro.
• For the Tuna:
• Coat the tuna with the oil and season with the salt and pepper. On a plate scatter the sesame seeds and press the tuna into the seeds on both sides, gently shaking off the excess.
• Heat a large grill or saute pan over high heat and sear the tuna for 3 minutes on each side. Remove the fish from the pan and let rest for several minutes before slicing. The tuna will be medium-rare.
• Toss the vegetables with half of the dressing and mix well. Add half of the wonton strips and gently combine. Mound the slaw onto a platter or indivisual plates. Place the sliced tuna on top of the salad and drizzle the remaining dressing on top. Garnish with the remaining wonton strips.

ASIAN AHI TUNA PANINI

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and wasabi powder until well blended, then stir in green onion; set aside.
• Rub the tuna steaks with 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil, then sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the five-spice powder.
• Let the wasabi mayonnaise and the tuna steaks stand for 15 minutes at room temperature to allow the flavors to blend, or cover and refrigerate for up to 1hour; if refrigerating, return to room temperature before grilling the tuna and assembling the panini.
• Preheat the sandwich grill.
• Arrange the tuna steaks in the grill, close the top plate and cook until seared on the outside and about 1/4 inch into the interior, 8-10 minutes (time may be less, so watch closely).
• Transfer immediately to a plate; leave the grill on and clean the grill plates.
• Place the rolls, cut side down, on a work surface and brush the crust sides with the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil, then sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon five-spice powder.
• Turn and spread the wasabi mayonnaise on the cut side of each roll, then layer 1 tuna steak, half of the pickled ginger, and half of the watercress over the mayonnaise on the bottom half of each roll.
• Cover with the top halves of the rolls, mayo side down, and press to pack gently.
• Place the panini on the grill, close the top plate, and cook until the bread is golden and toasted, the ginger and tuna are warmed through, and the watercress is just slightly wilted, 2-4 minutes.
• The tuna should not cook much further; place on warmed plates and serve at once.

AHI TUNA

Steps:

• Preheat grill.
• Place tuna in a glass bowl. Combine rest of ingredients and pour over the tuna. Marinate tuna for at least 1 hour.
• Place directly on hot grill for 1 minute or until desired doneness.

SEARED AHI TUNA STEAKS

Steps:

• Season the tuna steaks with salt and cayenne pepper.
• Melt the butter with the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the peppercorns in the mixture until they soften and pop, about 5 minutes. Gently place the seasoned tuna in the skillet and cook to desired doneness, 1 1/2 minutes per side for rare.

ASIAN SESAME SEARED OR GRILLED TUNA (GLUTEN FREE)

Steps:

• Whisk tamari, sesame oil, mirin, honey, vinegar, ginger, green onions, and garlic together in a bowl until marinade is evenly mixed. Place tuna steaks in the marinade and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Spread sesame seeds onto a plate. Remove tuna from marinade and discard marinade. Press tuna into sesame seeds until evenly coated.
• Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat until very hot; cook tuna in the hot oil until cooked to desired doneness, 30 seconds to 5 minutes per side.

SUPER EASY SEARED AHI TUNA

Steps:

• With a sharp knife, cut the tuna into 4 large pieces for appetizer portion, 2 large pieces for dinner portion. Use your judgment on what shape you want to cut your tuna because not all tuna is the same size or shape. However, the shape should somewhat resemble a miniature brick.
• Season the tuna pieces with salt and pepper. Coat lightly on all sides with bread crumbs. Heat olive oil in a large heavy skillet over high heat. The pan should be as hot as you can get it. Place the tuna in the pan, and sear on each side for about 45 seconds for small portions, or 1 minute for large. Remove from pan. The tuna will be very rare.
• Slice each 'brick' into 1/4 inch thick slices, and fan out on a serving plate. Enjoy plain, or with the condiments of your choice.

TUNA PANINI MELT

Steps:

• Mix tuna, mayonnaise, balsamic vinegar, onion, and dill pickle together in a bowl.
• Spread tuna mixture over 2 slices of bread. Top with American cheese and remaining 2 slices of bread.
• Cook in a panini press until bread is crispy and cheese is melted, 3 to 4 minutes.