This easy blackened seared tuna is loaded with delicious blackened spice flavor that is seared on to the tuna steaks until blackened perfection. We love slicing up blackened seared tuna for tacos but you can serve it just as is. These blackened seared tuna tacos are juicy and delicious and the best fish tacos around. You will not want to order out fish tacos anymore after trying these.
About this tuna steak recipe:
The deliciousness all starts off with an amazing blackened seasoning that is seared on to the ahi tuna steaks making it taste so amazing. The best part is it only takes minutes to make.
We love slicing up our seared tuna steaks and making them into tacos because we love tacos AND it is a great way to stretch the budget when buying a premium cut of fish when you are feeding a family .
Once cooked, the blackened ahi tuna is placed into tortillas and topped with the easiest cumin lime coleslaw that is out of this world delicious. The recipe for this coleslaw is included below. If you do not make the tacos, I suggest making this cumin lime slaw as a side!
Ingredients you will need:
- Ahi tuna steaks. I will explain the different types of tuna below in case you cannot find these.
- Flour tortillas.
- Cumin and lime slaw (shredded cabbage, mayonnaise, sour cream, cumin, lime, kosher salt).
- Blackened spice seasoning (chili powder, paprika, kosher salt, cayenne pepper).
- Limes or lemons for serving. I love a fresh squeeze of lemon or lime on my fish tacos. This is optional.
How to make this blackened tuna:
- Make your blackened spice seasoning. This is the same one I use on my blackened chicken and it is so good!
- Press tuna steaks into the spice seasoning on a plate and make sure to coat all sides.
- Cook tuna steak in pan (sear the tuna steaks) making sure to cook all sides.
- Make the cumin and lime coleslaw.
- Slice up the tuna into thin strips and place in warmed tortillas.
- Top with cumin and lime slaw
- Enjoy!
How to cook tuna steak in a pan:
To make delicious seared tuna steaks, you want to make sure you have a nice hot pan that is pre-heated and waiting for you. Once the tuna is placed in the pre-heated pan it will sear, forming a delicious crust on the outside.
The inside will stay nice and pink and juicy. This is what you want when working with ahi tuna.
Variations and Types of Tuna for searing:
These blackened tuna tacos use ahi tuna as the fish because it is firm and holds up to a nice sear, making it a fast cooking fish. Ahi tuna is also called yellowfin or bigeye tuna.
This type of tuna is found in steak form which means it is a thick cut that is cooked to medium rare in the center and seared on the outside. If you cannot find ahi tuna then bluefin or yellowfin tuna will work great.
All of these types of tuna are perfect for searing and can be served with a pink center.
If you like blackened tuna, you may like:
- Blackened Chicken
- Easy Sausage Jambalaya
- Sausage and Chicken Gumbo
- Real Texas Chili
- Miso Rubbed Salmon
- Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies
Blackened Seared Tuna
Tried the Recipe? We Would Love To Hear From You In The Comments Below!
Ingredients
- 2 Ahi tuna steaks
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil for pan
- 6 flour tortillas warmed
Blackened Spice
- 4 tablespoon Sweet paprika
- 2 tablespoon Chili powder
- 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne pepper use ¼ teaspoon if you like really spicy
Cumin Lime Coleslaw
- 8-10 oz of green and purple cabbage mixed Bagged shredded cabbage works great.
- 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon of cumin plus more to taste
- 2 tablespoon of chopped fresh cilantro
- ¼ cup green onions thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoon of sour cream for a healthier coleslaw you can use greek yogurt.
- 2 tablespoon of mayonnaise
- kosher salt and pepper to taste I use about ½ teaspoon of each
Instructions
Warming tortillas (if making tacos)
- Place tortillas in aluminum foil and wrap tightly then place in a pre-heated oven at 270 degrees.6 flour tortillas
Cumin Lime Coleslaw
- In a large bowl add your mayonnaise, sour cream, cumin, cilantro and shallot if your are using it. .1 teaspoon of cumin, 2 tablespoon of chopped fresh cilantro, 2 tablespoon of sour cream, 2 tablespoon of mayonnaise, ¼ cup green onions
- Next add your cabbage mix8-10 oz of green and purple cabbage mixed
- Now squeeze the fresh lime over top and add your salt and pepper. Mix well so all of the ingredients come together. It may look a little dry but once it sits it will come together and moisten.1 lime, kosher salt and pepper to taste
- Taste for any additional cumin. I like lots so I usually add a little more at this point.
- Let sit while you prepare the tuna.
Making the blackened seasoning
- Mix together all the spices in a small bowl.4 tablespoon Sweet paprika, 2 tablespoon Chili powder, 1 tablespoon Kosher salt, ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne pepper
Searing the blackened tuna
- Pre-heat a large flat bottom pan over medium high heat then add oil.
- Pour blackened seasoning on to a plate.1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Pat tuna steaks with a paper towel to dry them off.
- Press tuna steaks into seasoning making sure to coat all sides (even the edges).2 Ahi tuna steaks
- Place tuna steaks in the pre-heated pan and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Flip the tuna steaks and cook for another 1 minute. This will yield a rare to medium rare tuna steak.
- Remove from the pan and serve as is or slice into thin strips and place into warmed tortillas and top with cumin and lime slaw.
Nutrition
Nutrition Values are estimates only.
See full nutrition disclaimer here
Joel says
Made the tuna on its own and loved it, can’t wait to try it in taco form next!