Ahi Tuna Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing

This Ahi Tuna Salad is a colourful dish served with seared tuna steaks, sliced avocado, crunchy wontons and a delicious sesame ginger dressing.

Sashimi Tuna Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing

Ingredients and substitutions

Olive oil – or any other neutral cooking oil like avocado, canola or grapeseed oil.
Tuna steaks – try using sushi-grade ahi tuna or sashimi-grade salmon.
Sesame seeds – white or black sesame seeds would both work here.
Romaine lettuce – iceberg, bibb or Boston lettuce are the best substitutes.
Carrot matchsticks – replace with the vegetable of your choice like edamame or spiralized zucchini.
Red cabbage – broccoli slaw or Napa cabbage would also be delicious.
Cucumber – try celery, zucchini or another vegetable of your choice.
Green onions – use scallions or leave these out altogether.
Avocado – substitute for a vegetable of your choice if you don’t like avocado.
Wontons – tortilla strips add the same amount of crunch to the salad.
Carrot – leave this out altogether if you don’t have any carrots on hand.
Celery – you can leave the celery out.
Sesame oil – grapeseed oil or olive oil can be substituted but they won’t have the same flavour as the sesame oil.
Rice vinegar – white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar would be the next best option.
Honey – try using agave or maple syrup.
Minced ginger – fresh ginger is best but you can use ground ginger in a pinch.
Soy sauce – tamari and coconut aminos are a great replacement for soy sauce.

How to make ahi tuna salad

Make the dressing.
Season the tuna and coat in sesame seeds.
Sear the tuna then slice.
Assemble your salads and mix in the dressing.
Serve and enjoy!

Cooking the perfect seared tuna

Making the perfect seared tuna can be tricky, especially when tuna steaks come in varying ranges of thickness. I typically do 30 seconds per side to make sure the tuna isn’t overcooked, but you can always cook them longer if desired.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ahi tuna?

Ahi tuna, also known as yellowfin tuna, is found in tropical or subtropical climates. It’s a great source of lean protein and is most commonly served seared or raw in sushi dishes.

Is this recipe healthy?

Yes! This recipe is super healthy. It’s made with lots of fresh veggies and the tuna steaks are a great source of lean protein. Tuna is also low in carbs and high in nutrients like vitamin B and omega-3 fatty acids.

Can you eat raw ahi tuna?

You should only eat raw ahi tuna if it’s marked as sushi-grade or sashimi-grade. That means that the tuna has been properly cleaned and is safe for consumption.

Storing leftover salad

You can store the leftover salads in containers in the fridge up to 3 days. I would recommend storing the tuna and salad separately so the veggies themselves can stay fresh. The avocado should also be stored separately so that it doesn't brown. You can squeeze some lemon juice overtop and not slice the avocado until ready to be used again to prevent browning and softening.

Freezing the tuna

You can freeze the tuna steaks for up to 3 months. Store the tuna in an airtight glass container or in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. When you’re ready to eat, let it thaw in the fridge overnight and serve over fresh salad.

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Meal prep tools for this recipe

You can order some black and white sesame seeds here.
You can get wonton strips here.
Get square glass meal prep bowls here for leftovers.