Tuna Tartare in sesame ginger sauce
Ever wanted to make tuna tartare at home? This tuna tartare in sesame ginger sauce is easy to make and will impress your guests!
What is tuna tartare?
To get started, tuna tartare is a simple dish consisting of raw tuna that is cut up into small cubes with whatever flavors one prefers added in. Traditionally tartare is prepared with beef, however, using fish has become extremely popular and makes this dish appealing to a larger group of people.
There is so much popularity out there now with sushi, poke bowls and tartare, especially considering the vast amount of flavors that can be integrated. But like anything trendy, they can be expensive to eat at restaurants! Luckily, tuna tartare is actually so easy to make at home, requires no cooking, and is healthy and delicious!
How to make tuna tartare:
When buying tuna to make tartare, make sure to buy it from a reputable shop and always make sure to ask someone if it is sushi grade tuna. That is what you’re looking for! The fish should have a nice deep red color and there should be no fishy smell. Ensure the tuna remains chilled and on ice until right before it is prepared and served.
I recommend to always use some acid in any raw fish recipes (tartare, carpaccio, ceviche, ect). The acid creates a reaction (denaturing the protein), which essentially breaks down and rearranges the proteins in the fish the way they would be if it had been cooked. Amazing right?! This not only takes us back to our high school chemistry days, but it also makes the fish safe to eat raw, which is pretty important.
Another important thing to remember when making this tuna tartare in sesame ginger sauce is to use a sharp knife! This will make the process SO much easier when preparing the tartare and will keep the fish tender!
This tuna tartare in sesame ginger sauce is:
- High in protein
- Low-carb
- Gluten-free
- requires zero cooking
You can also switch up the type of sauce or the ingredients used in this tartare, but sesame ginger is my absolute favourite!
Tuna Tartare in sesame ginger sauce
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main
- Method: Chop
- Cuisine: Japanese
Description
A simple and healthy tuna tartare recipe that will be sure to impress anyone!
Ingredients
Tartare
- 300 grams of sushi grade Tuna, cut into small cubes
- 4 green onions, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 avocado, chopped into small pieces
- 1/2 cup diced cucumber
- A handful of cilantro, chopped
- 1 tbsb lime juice
- pinch of salt & pepper
Sauce
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp. grated ginger
- 2 spring onions, chopped
- 2 tbsp soy sauce, gluten-free if needed
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
Instructions
- Add all the sauce ingredients to a bowl and mix together. Set aside.
- Add the cut up tuna, green onions and sesame seeds directly to the bowl of sauce and mix until combined.
- in a separate bowl, mix together the finely chopped avocado, cucumber, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
- Plate your tartare by using a mould (like this), or a circular ramekin (like this)
Notes
Serve these up with your favourite rice crackers on the side!
If using a ramekin, build your tartare inside, and then carefully flip over onto a plate.
Garnish your tartare with sriracha, cilantro, and sesame seeds
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 recipe
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 9g
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 30g
This post contains affiliate links which means I will make a small commission if you purchase through those links. I only recommend products that I know, trust and love!
I don’t eat raw fish and/ or Tuna but I love to cook and prepare food. I visited my sister and she surprised me with a pound and a half of tuna to prepare a la tartare. Yikes… I am glad I found this one. I was afraid it was going to be a disaster but everyone who had it loved it! Thank You!
So happy you enjoyed it!
Lovely recipe! Delicious and easy to prepare.
Happy you enjoyed it!
Tried it a few times and turned out great. Would recommend serving with jalapeno lime tostito chips
Thanks Paul! Sounds delicious with Jalapeno lime chips!
Delicious, will definitely make again!
Thanks Dee! Glad you enjoyed!
The best recipe I have ever tried. We catch our own tuna from time to time and this is a must do recipe!
So happy you enjoyed it Susan!
Super nice!
Glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
Great recipe and easy to make! Had this for an appetizer for a girls night and it was a huge hit.
Glad you enjoyed Maria! It’s the perfect recipe for a fun girls night 🙂
Absolutely delicious. Co worker never had tuna tartare and she is a fan off one bite from this recipe. Best one I’ve ever made.
Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
made it tonight as an appetizer with arugula underneather.
Delicious sauce/ Easy to make and good on sliced barely cooked tuna too.
Happy you enjoyed it!
Excellent! We prepared this as an appetizer and served with wasabi rice crackers!
Happy you enjoyed it!
Im gonna try this at my next wine dinner in July looks amazing
Enjoy!
This was as good as any Tina tartare that I have enjoyed at some fine restaurants. I agree with the people who said that there’s was darker in color due to the soy sauce.
It still tasted the same but not as nice a presentation.
Great flavours. We served it with lime flavoured Tostitos and a nice New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Thanks for sharing your recipe. I’m sure it will be a crowd pleaser and my next dinner gathering.
Happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Very pleased with your wonderfully detailed recipe! It came out company worthy …lol.
So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Easy and delicious.
Thanks Barbara, happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Used salmon and omitted honey
Glad you enjoyed!
I used salmon instead of tuna and it was very tasty and easy to make! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome Nora! Happy you enjoyed!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made this delicious recipe and how many people I’ve impressed! The only thing I do differently is I use Japanese togarashi spice (which has sesame in it) instead of sesame seeds. Thank you so much for sharing. I’ve probably shared this recipe with 10 people!!
So happy you enjoy the recipe Tracy!
We had to substitute a couple of things, but it was still delicious. Easy to make, I used a star shaped mould to make it festive. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed the recipe Sue 🙂
Thank you, did not follow exatbut forgot the ginger but loved the taste . . .
Happy you enjoyed the recipe Doreen!
Delicious and east to make, thank you so much for sharing this!
You’re welcome Nic! Happy you enjoyed!
Hi this sounds lovely and I will try making it, how long do I marinate the tuna in the sauce? Will it turn mushy if I marinate it for too long? Thank you and I can’t wait to make it
Hi Nic! You can prepare the tofu with the sauce up to 30 minutes before serving!
amazing recipe easy to understand.
Thanks Alicia! Happy you enjoyed it!
Hi – Is this something that can be prepped in the morning and served later in the evening?
Hi Mike, You can prepare all the elements separately ahead of time (chop up the tuna, prepare the sauce etc.) and assemble it in the evening, but I would not recommend prepping it entirely in the morning.
Love love love!!!!! I especially like that the recipe is so easy for home prep!!!! So wonderful!
So happy you enjoyed it Terry 🙂
Made it, enjoyed it 🙂 thanks!
Happy you liked it!
Very delicious
You can add teriyaki mirin sauce as topping
Thanks Mira! Happy you enjoyed!
Perfect combination
Happy you enjoyed it Greg!
I’m about to go to Carriacou in the grenadines where there is an abundance of delicious fresh tuna, which have to be caught though.
I really don’t know how to grade freshly caught tuna from this part of the world(Caribbean) and would assume tuna straight from the sea would be great.
Am I right in this assessment?
Having had this heavenly dish many times when abroad, I can’t wait make my own. I believe with your sentiments that the ginger/sesame recipe is the best.
Thank you.
Christian Wainwright.
Trinidad.
Hi Christian, you can ask at the fish market for sushi-grade tuna, they’ll be able to assist you with the proper fish you can eat raw 🙂
Delicious recipe
Thanks Carmen, glad you liked it!
I can only agree with the 5 star rating for this recipe. I love tuna tartare and had this as my second Covid birthday dinner – had a huge smile on my face whilst eating – only comment I would make is with the soy sauce 2 tbsp – it actually makes the sauce dark brown not a nice tuna pink as the photo? – fab
Thank you for the review Louise! Happy you enjoyed it! The colour of the sauce will depend on the brand of soy sauce you are using-a light soy sauce should not change the colour of the tuna at all.
Fantastic and so simple!
Thanks Alessandra!
Amazing Recipe. It was restaurant quality. Cannot wait to make this for a dinner party. My guests will certainly be impressed.
Thanks Voula! Happy you enjoyed it. Perfect “impressive” dish to make for guests 🙂
Great recipe my wife loves it.
Thanks ray!
Perfect balance of all of the ingredients! Can you tell me what you use to decorate the dish (red drops)?
Happy you enjoyed Isabelle! It’s just sriracha on the plate 🙂
Excellent!
I just made this but made a few changes, reduced the honey and oil.
Added jalapenos and removed the avocado (out of season).
Enjoying this rather with a glass of off-dry Australian Riesling.
Happy you enjoyed the recipe Nichelle!
This is so delicious! Am wondering if you can substitute salmon for tuna?
Hi Marian, Yes, Absolutely!
Delicious!
Thanks Cindy!
I made this twice and I loved both times. I bought the tuna at Trader Joe’s and it already had the sesame seeds on it. I used less soy sauce though to keep sodium down. I would highly recommend making this.
Thanks Kim! Happy you loved it!
The original recipe is great already. You may want to try replacing the sesame oil with olive. I like more with olive as somehow the smell of sesame oil is not combined well for my taste here with the other ingredients, but my wife prefers the original version, so swapping the oils from time to time 🙂 It also goes well with very young marrow instead of cucumber if you want to experiment.
So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Once I have made this (YUM!) I can’t eat it all at once, as I lve alone…. How long can I keep ndividual ramekins in the fridge or can I freeze them?
Happy you enjoyed Susan! I wouldn’t recommend keeping this in the fridge for more than 24 hours, since it is raw. This recipe can’t be frozen either
This is the best recipe. So impressive yet completely foolproof.
Thanks Maria! Happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Excellent!
Thanks Tina! Happy you enjoyed!
Going to try out tomorrow for Saints game⚜️🌈
Enjoy Heather! 🙂
Good recipe
Thanks Chelsi! Glad you enjoyed!
Sounds amazing. Question..what acid do you add to the fish? I see lime juice with the avocado.
What do you recommend?
Can’t wait to try this.
Hi Michelle, the lime juice is aacidic 🙂
Wow, this was a hit with every adult at our dinner party – so easy to make and impressive to serve! I made it with freshly caught blue fin tuna from the San Diego/Baja region.
I love the layered look, but the ramekin method is a bit messy bec it doesn’t want to come out. I will try a ring next time made out of a tunafish can. This recipe is a keeper, thank you!
Thank you Penny! Sounds so wonderful, you can buy round ring moulds which is best to get the perfectly round shape 🙂
I use plastic wrap inside the ramekin, lightly sprayed, so when I flip it I can carefully remove the wrap.
Hope this helps.
Hi Jessica, great recipe! I made all the elements separately and served them to make poke bowls, along with shredded carrots, red peppers, mango cubes, strawberry cubes, they were so much fun to build. Question. What would you say is the minimum amount of time for tuna to be in the marinade? My tuna got a bit browner than yours because I made it ahead, but for a dinner at home, I’d like to plan for it to be just enough to have the bright tuna color on the plate. Thank you!
Thank you! Happy you enjoyed!
Great delicious recipe! Quick question: do you use both the stem and the bulb of the spring onion?
Hi Catherine, I like to use all of the green onion but if you prefer a more mild taste you can use just the greens!
Thank you for the recipe! Is it fine to use just untoasted sesame seeds or will the taste be impacted?
Hi Judy, toated sesame seeds are definitely best for the flavour. I’d highly recommend toasted your seeds.
Rating it based on the sauce…….wonderful! One question. What is the difference between a spring onion and a green onion? Thanks!
Thank you Andrea! Green onion and spring onion are often used interchangeably, though technically spring onions are the ones with a bit of a bigger bulb on the bottom
I am getting ready to make either salmon tartare or tuna tartare for a party. I’ve been scared as I’ve read so much about raw fish causing people to get very ill. I had always thought that the marinade basically “cooked” the fish. Is tuna tartare safer to go with than salmon? I would think they’re basically the same…….
Hi Gina, salmon isn’t safer than tuna, they’re both the same. Make sure to buy from a reputable shop and ask for sushi-grade tuna or salmon to use.
I made this tonight and it was outstanding. This is a keeper for sure.
Thank you Nancy! So glad you enjoyed!
This recipe is amazing. Thank you so much
Thank you for the review Bec! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Hi, Jess – This was a great recipe, and we will definitely make it again!
Next time, we will try using finely chopped fruit (maybe grapefruit or mango) and roasting the garlic, since we enjoyed those variations at restaurants near us.
One important request: Can you please change the font size and font color used for the printed recipe? We have tried to print this recipe for our recipe book, and the final printout is a very light gray that is also so thin it is barely readable, even with super-high resolution printing.
Thanks!
Alan
Hi Alan, thank you for the review! I will look into it for the print page, thank you for letting me know!
So simple and absolutely delicious
Thank you Dan! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
I tried out this recipe for a dinner party I hosted last weekend and it was such a hit! I love fish and especially sushi, but I had always been intimidated making tartar myself so I had never tried. This recipe is so easy and delicious! I will be making this regularly now for sure!
Thanks Alyssa! I used to make this for dinner with friends too. It’s always s much fun and WAY cheaper than ordering it in a restaurant!