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Whether you’re grilling, searing, baking or broiling your tuna, this Marinade for Tuna Steak will send it over the top. It’s easy to make, uses only 8 simple ingredients and comes together in just 5 minutes.

Are you a fan of marinating your fish and meat before you cook and eat them? For me, it really depends on a few factors. Like what exactly I’m cooking. Or what kind of mood I’m in. What I feel like having for dinner. Or what flavours I’m trying to achieve. If I am going to marinate something, I, in most cases, believe in the golden rule that the longer, the better and more flavourful that thing will become. Sometimes, like when I’m reverse searing a steak, I skip out on the marinade altogether. And other times, like in this grilled tuna steak recipe, I’m all for it. I believe that marinades give you the power to add an abundance of flavour and since the actual time it takes something to marinate is actually spent hands off (probably sleeping) it’s almost a no brainer to do.

chopped green onions and other ingredients in a bowl next to a hand with a whisk

Tuna has got to be one of my all time favourite kinds of fishes. I especially love it fresh and raw (sashimi style). But, if I am going to cook it, I definitely love it in a good marinade or served up with a nice sauce. Something that is both simple and elegant, can be made in a pinch and uses ingredients you can always find in my kitchen.

And that, my friends, is how this simple and delicious Marinade for Tuna Steak was born. The beauty about marinating Tuna Steaks is that unlike their meat counterparts, the longer-the-better golden rule actually does not apply. Instead, Tuna Steaks are best marinated for a short time of 30 minutes to 2 hours on the higher end of things. And when the result is still a flavour explosion like no other, you just know that this is the only Tuna Steak Marinade recipe you will ever need.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE THIS TUNA STEAK MARINADE

ingredients for marinade for tuna steak - tuna steak, soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha, lime, ginger, garlic, pepper, green onions — *Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.*

Yes, friends, that’s all it takes! Just 8 simple ingredients I’m hoping you already have on hand cause I’m a firm believer that they should be staples in every kitchen. However, if you don’t, let this Tuna Steak Marinade recipe be your reason to get them! I promise, they’ll come in handy for a variety of other tasty recipes. Let’s discuss the ingredients in a little bit more detail down below:

Soy Sauce: Adds a salty, Earthy base to this Tuna Steak Marinade. You can use Tamari or Coconut Aminos instead if you’re looking to make this recipe keto friendly or gluten free.
Sesame Oil: A popular ingredient in Asian cooking. Adds a rich, nutty taste to the marinade. Since sesame oil has such a distinct flavour, I don’t recommend substituting it with a different oil as it won’t taste the same and you’ll get different results.
Sriracha: Adds a little bit of a spicy kick to this Marinade for Tuna Steaks. Add more for extra spicy or omit completely for none at all. Feel free to use a different kind of hot sauce instead, if you prefer. Chili flakes, sambal oelek or minced chili peppers also make great alternatives.
Garlic: Cause everything tastes better with a garlicky bite. Am I right? I like using finely minced fresh garlic for this recipe. However, if all you have on hand is garlic powder, use 1/2 a teaspoon instead of the 2 fresh cloves.
Ginger: Adds a pungent, almost spicy bite to this Tuna Steak Marinade. You can use a knob of fresh minced ginger instead of the 1/2 teaspoon of ground, if you prefer.
Green Onions: Adds freshness and the perfect onion-y flavour to the marinade. If you don’t have any green onions on hand, you can substitute red or yellow in a pinch. Alternatively, you can use 1/2 a teaspoon of onion powder instead.
Lime: Adds freshness and acidity to this Tuna Steak Marinade recipe. Freshly squeezed lime juice works best in this recipe.
Pepper: For a peppery kick and a bit of balance.

brown sauce with chopped green onions being poured into a ziploc bag with tuna steaks

HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT MARINADE FOR TUNA STEAKS (KEY TIPS)

spoonful of green onions in soy sauce over a bowl with the rest

You can find full instructions for how to make this 8 ingredient Tuna Steak Marinade in the recipe card down below, but here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:

Make sure all of the ingredients for the marinade are well combined. You can either premix everything in a bowl beforehand or add all of the ingredients directly to the ziploc bag you plan to marinate your tuna in. Either way, ensuring everything is well combined means evenly distributed flavours all the way around.
Don’t let the tuna sit in the marinade for too long. While I’m normally a firm believer in the golden rule of marinating that the longer something sits in one, the better and more flavourful it will be, that isn’t necessarily the case with tuna. Since it’s such a delicate fish, the acid in the marinade will start breaking it down and ruin the texture of the fish if it sits in it for too long. Anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours will give you the best results.
When ready to cook your tuna, be sure to brush off the large pieces of green onions and garlic. They will burn during the cooking process if you leave them on.

hand with a whisk whisking green onions and soy sauce in a bowl

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CAN YOU MARINATE TUNA STEAKS TOO LONG?

Yes, unfortunately you can marinate tuna steaks for too long. While most meats live under the golden rule of marinating – that the longer the better and more flavourful – that is simply not the case with tuna steaks. If tuna steaks sit in a marinade for too long, the acidity in that marinade will start to break it down and ruin the texture of the fish. Tuna steaks should marinate anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours for best results.

DO YOU WASH TUNA STEAKS BEFORE COOKING?

No, not only is it not necessary to wash Tuna Steaks before cooking or marinating but you shouldn’t. Simply pat them dry with a clean paper towel before mixing them with the marinade ingredients and cooking.

WHAT TASTES GOOD WITH TUNA STEAKS?

I love serving Tuna Steaks up with these tasty side dishes: Crispy Garlic Broccoli, Pan Seared Bok Choy, Instant Pot Steamed Rice, Asian Cucumber Salad or Sautéed Spinach and Garlic. I’m also a sucker for serving it up with a tasty sauce for dipping such as 3 ingredient Spicy Mayonnaise or Japanese Style Roasted Sesame Dressing.

MARINADE FOR TUNA STEAK

Yield: ~3/4 Cup

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Whether you're grilling, searing, baking or broiling your tuna, this Marinade for Tuna Steak will send it over the top. It's easy to make, uses only 8 simple ingredients and comes together in just 5 minutes.

Ingredients

1/4 cup Soy Sauce
2 Cloves Garlic, finely minced
1 Green Onion, thinly sliced
1 Lime, juiced
1 tbsp Sesame Oil
1 tsp Sriracha
1/2 tsp Ground Ginger
1/4 tsp Pepper

Instructions

Add all of the ingredients to a bowl. Whisk until well combined. Alternatively, you can add them directly to the ziploc bag you plan to marinate your tuna in.

Notes

For best results, allow Tuna Steaks to marinate for at least 30 minutes but no more than 2 hours.

When ready to cook your tuna, be sure to brush off the large pieces of green onions and garlic or they will burn during the cooking process.

This marinade is perfect for my Grilled Tuna Steak Recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 186Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3644mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 6g

Nutrition is only an estimate and calculated using Nutritionix.