Seared Ahi Tuna Salad with Sesame Dressing

Ever get in a lunch rut?  Surely you have met the “what shall I pack for lunch?” question.  This is the Recipe Redux theme for this month.  Sharing my healthy lunch recipe so that you all can add it to your rotation.  This salad has quickly become one of my favorites.  It is so simple and can come together in less than 30 minutes.  One beautiful benefit of using Ahi Tuna is that it doesn’t need much cooking at all.  A few minutes on each side is all that it takes so a delicious and healthy meal in a snap is doable.  I have really been into eating more seafood lately.  I love getting nutrients via food vs. supplement whenever possible so I have been working on getting the recommended 2-3 servings of omega-3 filled wild fish every week.  #nutritiongoals

But the good news is that you don’t have to love fish or eat fish to enjoy this salad.  The dressing alone I may drink straight from a glass.  OK well maybe not but the dressing does take this salad to a whole new level of flavor enjoyment.  You can replace the seared ahi tuna with anything you like, grilled chicken, your favorite veggie burger, or even just leave it off.

This salad was inspired by a salad my husband and I shared on a recent date night.  The original salad contained wasabi peas which is a bit of a nutritional nightmare so to speak.  While wasabi peas sound like they would be healthy because they are peas after all…they sound like a vegetable.  The good news is that they do contain some fiber and protein but the bad new is that they contain some questionable ingredients like glutinous rice flour, sunflower oil, sugar, yellow #5 and blue #1 (may vary by brand).  So my real food solution was these freeze dried peas that I found in the store that only contain one ingredient…peas!  The perfect solution.

4.5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 2

Author Sara

Ingredients

• 1 large wild caught Ahi Tuna fillet about 8 ounces
• Salt and Pepper or your favorite seafood seasoning I used this one
• 4-6 cups mixed greens or your favorite greens
• 1 avocado sliced
• 1/2 cup freeze dried peas or wasabi peas- this brand isn't too bad
• 2 tablespoons black or white sesame seeds
• Sesame Dressing
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon low sodium tamari
• 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic peeled
• 1/2 inch fresh ginger grated
• 1/4 cup olive or avocado oil

Instructions

1. Season the ahi tuna with s&p or seasoning of choice on both sides.
2. On a medium heat grill or oiled saute pan add the tuna and cook until just seared about 3-5 minutes.
3. Flip and sear the other side for another 3-5 minutes so that the center is still pink.
4. Allow to rest a few minutes while you assemble the salad.
5. Divide the greens, avocado, peas, and sesame seeds into two bowls.
6. Add all of the dressing ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth and well combined.
7. Slice the ahi tuna into thin sliced and divide over the two salads.
8. Top with salad with dressing.
9. Enjoy immediately.

Recipe Notes

*choose organic ingredients when possible.