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Quick Blackened Tuna Steak with Spicy Crust

Two halves of a perfectly cooked Blackened Tuna Steak showing a rare, bright pink center and a dark, spicy crust.
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Make restaurant-quality blackened tuna steak at home quickly. This recipe gives you a perfect spicy crust using Cajun seasoning and works well on the grill, skillet, or in the air fryer.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 (6 ounce) tuna steaks, about 1 inch thick
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (for blackened tuna dinner ideas)
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Pat the tuna steaks completely dry with paper towels. This helps create a good crust.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the Cajun seasoning, brown sugar, black pepper, and salt together. This is your spicy rub.
  3. Brush both sides of the tuna steaks lightly with olive oil.
  4. Generously coat all sides of the tuna steaks with the seasoning mix, pressing gently so it adheres well.
  5. For a skillet: Heat a cast-iron skillet over high heat until it is smoking hot. Place the seasoned tuna in the hot skillet. Cook for 1.5 to 2 minutes per side for rare (125°F) or 3 minutes per side for medium-rare (135°F).
  6. For a grill: Preheat your grill to high heat. Grill the tuna for 2 to 3 minutes per side for your desired doneness.
  7. For an air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Place the steaks in the basket without overcrowding. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway through, for medium-rare.
  8. Remove the tuna from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing against the grain.

Notes

  • For an easy tuna dinner pairing, serve this spicy tuna steak with a fresh avocado-mango salsa.
  • If you plan to meal prep, you can mix the Cajun seasoning blend ahead of time and store it in an airtight container.
  • To achieve a true blackened effect, your cooking surface must be very hot. Do not overcrowd the pan or grill.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://whiskdaily.com/blackened-tuna-steak-10-minutes/