Bonefish Grill Tuna Bowls {Copycat Recipe}

Name: Bonefish Grill Tuna Bowls {Copycat Recipe}
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 (6 oz) tuna steaks (about 1 inch thick); Sesame seeds (to coat tuna with); 1 avocado (sliced ); 1/2 cup tortilla strips; 3/4 cup sweet chili Thai sauce ((about 2 tbsp per bowl)); 1 cup frozen or fresh mango (diced); 1 red pepper (diced); 1 small red onion (diced); 1/3 cup cilantro (finely chopped); 1 tbsp lime or lemon juice; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 1/4 cups water; 1 cup jasmine rice; 1 tsp butter; 1 pinch salt

These Bonefish Grill Tuna Bowls are a delicious copycat from my favourite seafood chain, made with mango salsa and sweet chili sauce!

Ingredients and substitutions

Olive oil – or another neutral cooking oil like grapeseed or avocado oil.
Tuna steaks – you can use salmon or grilled shrimp instead.
Sesame seeds – coat your tuna steaks with red pepper flakes instead for an extra kick.
Avocado – swap out for another veggie of your choice like cucumbers, edamame or green beans.
Tortilla strips – wontons would also be good in these tuna bowls.
Sweet chili Thai sauce – if you don’t have any sweet chili sauce, try mixing together some hot sauce and honey for a similar flavour.
Jasmine rice – sushi rice, brown rice, soba noodles or zucchini noodles would all be good.

Mango salsa

Mango – frozen or fresh mango can be used or you can swap out for a different fruit like avocado or pineapple.
Red pepper – feel free to use any other bell pepper colour.
Red onion – white onion will work but has a slightly different flavour.
Cilantro – leave this out altogether if you don’t like cilantro.
Lime juice – freshly squeezed or bottled lime or lemon juice will both work here.
Salt – to taste.

How to make tuna bowls

Cook the rice.
Make the mango salsa.
Coat the tuna steaks with sesame seeds.
Sear the tuna steaks.
Assemble your bowls.
Serve and dig in!

How to sear tuna

Searing tuna means it’s rare when served. That’s why it’s important to invest in high-quality tuna meat.

To get a proper sear on the tuna steak:

Heat oil in a pan to high heat. You want to wait to put the tuna in the pan until the oil is smoking and very hot.
Coat the tuna steaks with sesame seeds.
Cook for 45 seconds per side. Yes, this is a very short time. But it’s just enough to sear the outside layer and keep the inside raw.
Let it rest for a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to sear tuna?

It is perfectly safe to sear and eat tuna that is cooked rare. A good quality tuna has been flash-frozen almost immediately after being caught. You just want to sear the outside to give it a little more flavour.

Are tuna bowls healthy?

Yes! These recipes are packed with protein and have 472 calories per serving. If you want to cut down even more on the calorie count you can eat them without the rice for a low-carb option.

What is mango salsa made of?

This mango salsa is super easy to make and adds the perfect amount of sweetness to your tuna bowls. It’s made with mango, red pepper, red onion, cilantro and lemon or lime juice.

Storing and reheating

These tuna bowls are best the day you make them. You can assemble them the night before and refrigerate them overnight. You may want to keep the rice separate if you plan to reheat it.

Freezing the tuna

Unfortunately, you can’t freeze this recipe whole, but you can freeze the tuna steaks for up to 3 months in airtight glass containers or freezer-safe Ziploc bags. Let the tuna defrost in the fridge overnight then serve with fresh toppings.

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Meal prep tools for this recipe

A rice cooker makes meal prep so much easier! This is the one I use.
Get square glass meal prep bowls here for leftovers.
Here's the sweet chili sauce I use.