Description
Learn how to cook tuna steak quickly in a cast iron skillet to achieve a perfect sear and a tender, rare center using a simple garlic herb butter finish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 (6 ounce) tuna steaks, about 1 inch thick
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- Pat the tuna steaks completely dry with paper towels. Season both sides evenly with salt and pepper.
- Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat until it is very hot, about 3-4 minutes. Add the olive oil.
- Carefully place the seasoned tuna steaks into the hot skillet. Sear for 1.5 to 2 minutes per side for rare to medium-rare. Do not move the steaks while searing.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the butter, minced garlic, parsley, and thyme to the skillet.
- As the butter melts, tilt the skillet and use a spoon to baste the melted garlic herb butter over the tops of the tuna steaks for about 30 seconds.
- Remove the tuna steaks from the skillet immediately and let them rest on a cutting board for 3 minutes before slicing against the grain.
Notes
- For a blackened crust, mix the salt and pepper with 1 teaspoon of paprika and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and coat the steaks before searing.
- If you prefer your tuna cooked more thoroughly, increase the searing time to 3 minutes per side.
- This recipe works well with Ahi or Yellowfin tuna steaks.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 6 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan-Searing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 steak
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 1
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 95