My Tuna Tataki recipe is an easy way to serve fresh sashimi-grade fish at home. In this Japanese technique, we quickly pan-sear the tuna and serve it rare on the inside with a drizzle of ginger ponzu sauce. It‘s a delicious treat for seafood lovers!
Tuna tataki (キハダ鮪のたたき) is a sashimi-grade yellowfin or ahi tuna that’s lightly seared and served rare with a citrus-based soy sauce. This dish is quick to make in just 10 minutes using a straightforward cooking technique in Japanese cuisine.
This lean protein makes a light yet flavorful appetizer to start a meal. You could also serve it as the main dish for a light lunch or in an entree salad. Let me walk you through this easy preparation in my Tuna Tataki recipe.
Table of Contents
What is Tataki?
You may wonder what tataki (たたき) means in Japanese. The literal translation is “pounded.” There are a few theories about the name’s origin based on different ways to prepare the fish (or meat) in Japanese cooking.
The first method is lightly searing over a hot flame or in a pan and briefly marinating in a citrus-based sauce. With this method, you gently use your fingers to “pound” the fish with marinade.
The other theory comes from pounding the fish with a knife when you sprinkle it with salt before cooking or when you sprinkle it with grated ginger or green onions to enhance the flavor.
Ginger Ponzu Sauce for Tuna Tataki
There are several variations for the sauce for tuna tataki. In this recipe, I use the most common one. It’s a simple ginger ponzu sauce with green onion, grated ginger, ponzu, sesame oil, and soy sauce.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- neutral oil
- sashimi-grade yellowfin/ahi tuna
- lemon – for garnish
- Korean chili thread – I used mild chili threads
Sauce
- green onion/scallion – chopped
- grated ginger – plus the juice
- ponzu – an all-purpose, citrus soy sauce condiment; store-bought or make my Homemade Ponzu recipe
- toasted sesame oil
- soy sauce
- toasted white sesame seeds
How To Make Tuna Tataki
- Grate the fresh ginger and slice the green onion/scallion thinly.
- Whisk the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Sear the raw fish. Heat a nonstick frying pan or skillet, then add oil. Add the sashimi-grade tuna and sear it 30 seconds on each side.
- Remove the seared tuna from the heat and let it cool. Slice the tuna into ¼-inch (6-mm) pieces with a very sharp knife. Pour the sauce on the tuna and garnish with lemon and Korean chili thread.
I hope you enjoy making my Tuna Tataki recipe!
Other Tuna Recipes You’ll Love
- Tuna Poke
- Tekka Don (Easy Tuna Bowl)
- Avocado and Negitoro Donburi
- Spicy Tuna
- Spicy Tuna Rolls
Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
Tuna Tataki
For the Ginger Ponzu Sauce
- 1 green onion/scallion (1 Tbsp, chopped)
- 1 tsp ginger (grated, with juice; from a 1-inch, 2.5-cm knob)
- 3 Tbsp ponzu (you can make my Homemade Ponzu recipe)
- 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp toasted white sesame seeds
For the Tuna
- 2 Tbsp neutral oil
- ½ lb sashimi-grade yellowfin/ahi tuna
For the Garnish
- ½ lemon
- Korean chili thread (I used mild chili threads)
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Grate the ginger and collect 1 tsp ginger (grated, with juice). Slice 1 green onion/scallion thinly and set aside.
- Combine the sauce ingredients in a small bowl: the green onions, the grated ginger, 3 Tbsp ponzu, 2 tsp toasted sesame oil, 1 tsp soy sauce, and 1 tsp toasted white sesame seeds. Set aside.
- Heat a nonstick frying pan. When the pan is hot, add 2 Tbsp neutral oil. When the oil is hot, add ½ lb sashimi-grade yellowfin/ahi tuna and sear it 30 seconds on each side.
- When all sides are seared, remove from the heat and let it cool. Slice the tuna into ¼-inch (6-mm) pieces. Pour the sauce on the Tuna Tataki and serve with ½ lemon and Korean chili thread.
To Store
- You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for a day.
I’ve sort of been waffling between this recipe for Tuna Tataki and another, the other involved coating the tuna with ginger and sesame seeds before cooking. I like this one better, but the one takeaway from the other is to slice the tuna halfway through before cooking, so it’s easier to slice once cooked. I found the Korean Chili Threads from Amazon, and I think these delicate threads just enhance the Tataki. As the other recipe suggested, I’ll serve this on top of some micro greens, and perhaps sprinkle some delicate bean sprouts on top, along with the Chili Threads.
I’m also going to make fresh spring rolls to complete the meal. I love your recipes!
Hi Joyce! Thank you so much for reading Nami’s post and trying her recipe!
We are glad to hear you enjoyed the Tuna Tataki.
Thank you for sharing your cooking experience with us.
Happy Cooking!
Do you know how long the sauce would keep good on its own? I’d store it in the fridge in a glass container.
Hi, Arlene. Thank you for taking the time to read Nami’s post and try her recipe!
The mixed sauce can be refrigerated until the next day.
If the grated ginger and sliced green onion are not added, they can be stored for 3–4 weeks.
We recommend freezing the grated ginger and green onion slices. It can be frozen for 3–4 weeks.
We hope this was useful!
Definitely a special meal. I would make this for a guest who doesn’t like the idea of raw fish but is comfortable with eating it “rare”.
Hi John! Thank you very much for reading Nami’s post and trying her recipe!
We hope you and your guest enjoy Tuna Tataki.🤗
I just made the miso glazed eggplant and tuna tataki and both were delicious and so easy to make! I’m looking forward to making more of your recipes!!
Hi Amy! Wonderful!
We are glad to hear you enjoyed this dish!
Thank you very much for trying Nami’s recipe and for your kind feedback! 🙂
Since I have moved to Tokyo almost 5 years ago this is my website to go to for Japanese cooking . I love it !! Easy recipes, perfectly explained . If it’s ok , I would
Like to share your website on the Tokyo mother’s group because I think it would be very helpful
Hi Aggie, Thank you very much for your kind feedback and your support!
We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed many recipes from our site. Thank you for sharing!
Just wonderful
Hi Kaushalya,
Thank you very much for your feedback!
Thank you for posting this. This was perfect 🙂
Hi Michelle! I’m so glad! Thank you for trying this recipe and for your kind feedback.
i made this recipe yesterday for new year’s and it was AMAZING everyone loved it!
Hi Fa! I’m so happy to hear that everyone enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for your kind feedback!
Nami. It is pretty hard to find recipes that come out as one desires. Your Tuna Tataki’s recipe is just outstanding. Although I may figure it out how one could make it on the grill. I would rather ask to you guide to accomplish so.
Hi Ricardo! Thank you for your kind words and feedback. I’m happy to hear you liked the recipe. You can use a grill, but make sure to control the heat. I would use a fine rack (kind of like Japanese grill rack) rather than western grill rack. Keep the heat far from the tuna so you won’t burn it too fast. 🙂
Hi Nani. Thank you very much for your prompt answer. Just one more question. Should one oil the tuna before barbecuing it ? Have a great day now
Sorry for my late response, Ricardo! I’d oil the rack with brush first before you use, so it won’t stick to the fish. 🙂
Hi Nami, first time poster but I’ve been creeping on your website for a couple years already! Made many a recipe! One question; how long do you find seared tuna like this, or your tuna poke will last in the fridge? I know it’s always best to eat fresh, but I have a hunk of frozen ahi that is really too big for just one meal. Thanks in advance!
Hi Marlee! I’d say you should definitely eat it on the dame day you cook. I won’t leave it any longer. I hope this helps! 🙂
This tuna tataki recipe is brilliant, along with so many of your recipes. Your background music for your videos is also great, and I am wondering if you could share the title and artist of the Gypsy Jazz music you used in the tuna tataki video. My son is a Gypsy Jazz guitarist and is really enjoyed the music… and the tataki! Thanks!
Hi Pete! I’m so happy to hear you and your son enjoyed this recipe (and other recipes of mine) and our selection of music for this video! The artist name is Jeremy Sherman (see links below). Thank you so much for your feedback!
http://www.audionetwork.com/production-music/ma-petite_11654.aspx
http://www.audionetwork.com/composer/jeremy-sherman_103.aspx