Tuna Steak Marinade Recipe (2024)

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The best tuna steak marinade recipe that is easy, and put together in 5 minutes or less. This marinade for tuna steaks made with herbs, spices, oil, lemon, and honey smells good, tastes amazing, and makes marinated tuna steaks flavorful, moist, and delicious. Let me show you how to make it.

Tuna Steak Marinade Recipe

This tuna steak marinade is simple to make with minimal prep and cleanup.
All it takes to put this together is just a few minutes. That's how quick it is. Measure out the ingredients into a bowl and mix! Easy peasy. It's even easier to marinate tuna steak. Put in Ziploc with the marinade, and let it sit in the fridge for just 30 minutes.

Tuna steak is a deep red color dense firm meat that is similar to beef. It is low in calories, packed full of nutrients, high in protein, meaty, flavorful, and delicious. Yellowfin (Ahi), bigeye and bluefin can be grilled, pan seared, baked, or air fried. Like steak, tuna steak can be cooked rare to well done.

This marinade for tuna steak is made with a few simple ingredients that are probably already sitting in your pantry cabinet. Soy sauce for umami, olive oil, lemon, honey for sweetness, garlic, onion, some herbs, and salt to tie it all in for a mix that infuses flavor into the tuna.

No waiting for long for it to marinate. Marinate tuna steak with this mix for just 30 minutes and you get moist, flavorful tuna steaks when cooked. Perfect for when time is of the essence.

This tuna steaks marinade is restaurant quality and it works for air-fried, baked, pan fried, and grilled tuna steaks. You get flavorful, tender, and delicious fish at all times. Every bite is flavorful.

The best thing about this tuna marinade is that it is not only perfect for tuna, but can be used for other seafood like sea bass, mackerel, Hake, shrimp, scallops, and Prawns. It's that versatile.

Related: Salmon marinade, Steak marinade, Tuna pasta recipe

Ingredients

The detailed ingredient list, measurements, and directions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Paprika- I like to use smoked paprika for a hint of smokey flavor.

Garlic- I used granules you can use garlic powder or if you prefer, use freshly minced garlic.

Onion- Use onion granules or powder. You can also use freshly chopped onions.

Lemon

Soy sauce (Optional)

Honey- For sweetness. This can be substituted for brown sugar.

Cayenne- This can be substituted for black pepper or any other type of pepper.

Parsley

Thyme

Olive oil

How To Make Tuna Steak Marinade

Measure out all the ingredients.

In a bowl, add all the ingredients parsley, paprika, onion, garlic, pepper, salt, soy sauce, honey, lemon juice, and olive oil. Mix till well combined.

It is ready to use or store for later.

This will marinate about 4 tuna steaks.

Add the tuna steaks into a Ziploc, add the marinade, and massage the bag to spread the marinade all over the tuna steaks. Zip it and put it in the fridge to marinate.

Easily turn the marinade into a sauce by pouring it into a saucepan, put it on the stove and you get a sauce that can be served as a glaze.

How To Marinate Tuna Steaks

This is easy, and quick to do. Make the marinade as directed above.

Clean and pat the tuna dry, Transfer to a Ziploc, or a bowl then pour the marinade all over it.

Make sure all the tuna steaks are covered in the marinade. Zip the bag or cover the bowl.

Put it in the fridge and let it marinate for 30 minutes. Don't marinate for too long as the acid in the lemon will start breaking down the tuna steak after some time. Perfect for when time is of the essence.

Bring out the tuna, let it get to room temperature then pan fry, grill, or bake tuna steaks.

How Long To Marinate Tuna Steaks

Marinate tuna steaks for 30 minutes to 4 hours.

Don't marinate it for too long because of the lemon juice. If left in the marinade for too long, the acid starts to break down the fish. You can freeze marinated steak for up to 3 months and then cook it from frozen.

How long to cook marinated tuna steaks depends on the size, if you want it rare, medium rare, medium well done, or well done, and the method of cooking. Most people like to cook it to medium rare. Typically it takes 6-20 minutes.

Marinated Tuna Steak

Marinated tuna steak can be cooked in the air fryer, oven, pan-fried, or grilled.

To Grill- Grill each side on medium heat for 2-3 minutes depending on how you want it. Rare, medium rare, or well done.

Bake- Put the marinated tuna in a baking paper lined oven tray, and bake in the oven at 400F/200C for 15-20 minutes or till it's cooked to your preference.

Air Fry- Arrange the marinated tuna steaks in the air fryer basket or tray. Set air fryer to 200C and air fry each side for 3-4 minutes.

Tuna is cooked when it is no longer translucent. Be careful not to overcook.

How To Store

Pour the marinade into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 48 hours or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When ready to use, bring it out, and mix till well combined before using.

Cooked marinated tuna steaks can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Tips For Making The Best Tuna Steak Marinade

Want it spicier? add hot sauce, pepper flakes, or cayenne.
You can double or triple this recipe.
This marinade for tuna can be used on other types of seafood.
If you want to marinate for longer than 30 minutes then don't add the lemon to the marinade or add lemon and freeze till when ready to cook.
You can freeze marinated tuna steaks and cook from frozen when ready to cook
No need to thaw.

FAQS

Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions about this recipe. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as possible.

Can you marinate tuna steaks too long?

If the marinade consists of lemon or acidic like vinegar don't marinate for more than as the lemon starts breaking it down after this time and it can become mushy.

What goes well with tuna steak?

Rice, Pasta, Potatoes, and vegetables are all side dishes that go well with it.

More Marinade Recipes

Steak marinade

Fish Marinade

Chicken drumstick marinade

Lemon chicken marinade

Chicken wing marinade

Honey mustard marinade

Recipe

Tuna Steak Marinade Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Condiments

Cuisine: African, American

Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes

2 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 185kcal

Author: Kemi

Equipment

▢
Measuring spoons
▢
Mixing bowl
▢
Ziploc
▢
Jar or airtight container

Ingredients

▢ 4 Tuna steaks
▢ 1 teaspoon Paprika
▢ ½ teaspoon Parsley
▢ ½ teaspoon Onion granules
▢ ½ teaspoon Garlic granules
▢ ¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper or black pepper
▢ 2 tablespoons Soy sauce Optional
▢ 1 tablespoon Honey
▢ 2 tablespoons Olive oil
▢ 1 small Lemon juiced
▢ Salt to taste

Instructions

Measure out all the dry ingredients.
In a bowl, add all the ingredients parsley, paprika, onion, garlic, pepper, salt, soy sauce, lemon, and olive oil. Mix till well combined.
It is ready to use or store for later.
This will marinate about 4 tuna steaks.
Add the tuna steaks into a Ziploc, add the marinade, and massage the bag to spread the marinade all over the tuna steaks. Zip it and put it in the fridge to marinate.

Marinated Tuna Steaks

Marinated tuna steak can be cooked in the air fryer, oven, pan-fried, or grilled.
To Grill- Grill each side on medium heat for 2-3 minutes depending on how you want it. Rare, medium rare, or well done.
Bake- Put the marinated tuna in a baking paper lined oven tray, and bake in the oven at 400F/200C for 15-20 minutes or till it's cooked to your preference.
Air Fry- Arrange the marinated tuna steaks in the air fryer basket or tray. Set air fryer to 200C and air fry each side for 3-4 minutes.
Tuna is cooked when it is no longer translucent. Be careful not to overcook.

Notes

Want it spicier? add hot sauce, pepper flakes, or cayenne.
You can double or triple this recipe.
This marinade for tuna can be used on other types of seafood.
If you want to marinate for longer than 30 minutes then don't add the lemon to the marinade or add lemon and freeze till when ready to cook.
You can freeze marinated tuna steaks and cook from frozen when ready to cook
No need to thaw.

Nutrition

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FAQs

How long can you marinate tuna steaks? ›

I think 30 minutes to an hour is the sweet spot, but more generally 15 minutes - 2 hours is what I aim for. Warning: You can marinate fresh tuna for too long. You do not want the tuna steaks to sit in the marinade for an excessive amount of time or the acids will ruin the texture of the fish, similar to making ceviche.

Discover More Details ›

How does Gordon Ramsay cook tuna? ›

just brush each piece of tuna with egg whites before you add the sesame seeds. add a few tablespoons of oil to a pan over medium heat. let that pan get hot. add the tuna, let it cook for a minute and flip and then cook for 1min more.

Learn More Now ›

How long should you brine tuna steaks? ›

In a large container, pack the brine onto the fish, making sure, if the fillets are stacked, that there is enough brine between each so the flesh of the fish itself is not touching. Transfer to the refrigerator to brine for 6 hours. Remove the fillets from the brine and and rinse thoroughly under cool water.

Show Me More ›

Is it okay to marinate tuna steaks overnight? ›

We found we could let the steaks marinate for up to 24 hours, making our recipe more flexible.

Should I soak tuna steak before cooking? ›

Tuna has tender meat that can quickly soak up different flavors, so marinating it before cooking will give the steak an unmistakable, deeper aroma. In poke bowls or a tuna tartare recipe, tuna is usually first marinated, but marinating is also beneficial for steak preparation.

Keep Reading ›

What can I put in tuna to make it taste better? ›

Lemon pepper, olive oil, minced garlic if you have it. I love making tuna melts. I put a bunch of celery, lemon zest, green onion, dill, and chives, and lemon juice and just a touch of Mayo (I don't like Mayo) together with some salt and pepper.

Read The Full Story ›

How is tuna steak supposed to be cooked? ›

Tuna can be served cooked to rare, or cooked to a crust on the outside and raw in the centre, known as tataki in Japan. Pan-frying or griddling make this easier to control. Because tuna has a fairly robust flavour, you can easily add herbs, spices and flavours to it without worrying about overwhelming the taste.

Get More Info Here ›

Why do you not cook tuna steaks all the way? ›

Because tuna steaks get dry and chewy when overcooked, the center should still be pink when it's done cooking. Some people like their tuna even more rare in the center, so adjust these suggestions on how long to cook tuna steaks accordingly.

Is tuna cooked when canned? ›

Canned tuna fish is an effortless meal option that can be especially handy on occasions when you don't feel like cooking, or perhaps are in a situation where you can't cook, like when you are camping. Being that it is already pre-cooked, it is safe to consume straight from the can with no other preparation.

Is tuna better in oil or brine? ›

The OMEGA-3s are maintained, no bad stuff is added. This is our pick of the three. That being said, brine is often cheaper, and a good rinse will minimise the sodium. In order of preference, spring water, brine (a close second), oil (a distant third).

Should tuna steaks be brined? ›

Without any brine, tuna at lower temperatures is relatively bland, even if it's seasoned right before serving; at higher temperatures, it tastes dry and chalky. With brine, low-temperature tuna has a smooth, buttery texture; at higher temperatures, it's still dry, but not nearly as dry as the un-brined samples.

How long can you marinate tuna in the fridge? ›

Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Once marinated, season the tuna steaks with salt and pepper to taste. Heat a nonstick skillet to medium high heat.