Tuna Tacos with Cilantro Lime Slaw – A Couple Cooks

These scrumptious ahi tuna tacos mix seared ahi tuna with tangy cilantro lime slaw and smoky chipotle crema. Prepared in simply Half-hour, they’re your ticket to restaurant-quality fish tacos at house!

As a fish taco fan who additionally loves a superb tuna steak, I’ve bought a brand new fusion spin for you: ahi tuna tacos! Seems, meaty tuna steak is the perfect filling for a taco!

These tacos hit each taste observe—the meaty, completely seared tuna contrasts superbly with cool, crunchy slaw, whereas the chipotle crema provides simply sufficient warmth and richness. My household completely gobbles these down (and so they’re notoriously choosy about seafood!).

Substances in these tuna tacos

Ahi tuna tacos are a spin on fish tacos, which have been invented within the Fifties in Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and went on to turn into standard in America within the 1980’s. This recipe seeks to honor the standard Mexican flavors, utilizing seared tuna as a substitute of the everyday breaded fish and pairing it with a zingy recent slaw. Listed below are the weather in these ahi tuna tacos:

Deciding on sushi-grade tuna steak

Ahi tuna, aka yellowfin tuna or bigeye tuna, is a gentle, lean fish generally served as sushi, in poke bowls, or cooked uncommon or medium-rare. Right here’s what to search for when shopping for tuna steak.

Search for “sushi-grade” or “sashimi-grade” labels. Whereas there’s no official regulation for these phrases, they point out the fish is recent sufficient to eat uncooked and has been dealt with with further care. The flesh must be deep pink (not brown) with a agency texture.

Test your native fish counter first. Many grocery shops now carry sushi-grade tuna. Don’t be shy about asking when it got here in—more energizing is at all times higher. In the event that they don’t have it, ask if they’ll order it for you.

Frozen may be implausible. Flash-frozen tuna is commonly more energizing than “recent” as a result of it’s frozen instantly after catching. Simply thaw in a single day within the fridge.

Ideas for cooking tuna steak

When you’ve bought an important piece of fish, the toughest a part of this recipe is searing the tuna. Listed below are a couple of tips about the way to cook dinner tuna steaks:

Let your tuna come to room temperature first. That is a very powerful tip I can share! I take it out 20-Half-hour earlier than cooking—simply sufficient time to make the slaw and sauce.
Use a meals thermometer to evaluate temperature (130°F). Add the steaks to a skillet and cook dinner 1 to 2 minutes per aspect, till calmly browned on the surface however nonetheless uncommon the within. For a medium-rare tuna steak, the inner temperature must be 130°F when measured with a meals thermometer on the thickest level.
Relaxation for two minutes. This helps it to set and turn into simpler to chop.

A cilantro lime slaw that steals the present

An ideal fish taco typically has a creamy slaw, and this one isn’t any exception! The cilantro lime slaw in these tacos is so good, you’ll end up frequently sneaking bites. This recipe has a little bit of a shortcut so that you’re not spending an excessive amount of time chopping.

Use a bag of coleslaw combine, then mix it with shredded pink cabbage! It makes for a stunning mixture of coloration and texture. In case you’ve bought leftover cilantro lime slaw, you possibly can eat it as a aspect dish for the tacos.

Sauce choices for each style

These tuna tacos are implausible drizzled with chipotle crema, which provides a savory creaminess and a little bit of smoky warmth. Combine it up whereas your tuna involves room temp, or strive considered one of these various sauces based mostly in your preferences and what you will have readily available:

Chipotle crema: A bitter cream-based sauce with adobo sauce, garlic and lime
Chipotle sauce: A zingy vegan sauce with tahini, adobo sauce and lime
Yum Yum sauce: A mayo-based savory candy sauce that originated at Japanese steakhouses (not spicy)