These simple grilled tuna steaks with lemon pepper take just minutes to prepare and cook. The combination of lemon pepper, which is a specific seasoning, with tender grilled tuna is really wonderful.
This is a dish that you can make year-round. In the summer, use an outdoor charcoal or gas grill. In the winter, or when the weather is not suitable for outdoor grilling, use a cast-iron grill pan on the stovetop.
Both frozen and frozen tuna is suitable for this recipe. Use fresh tuna immediately after you buy it. Let frozen tuna slowly thaw in the fridge, or, to speed up the thawing, place the sealed bag in a bowl of cold water.
You can buy ready-made lemon pepper seasoning or make your own lemon pepper spice mix from scratch. The recipe also calls for lemon juice and lemon peel to up the lemon flavor.
If you have the time, give the tuna the full two hours to marinate. Longer marinating will not only intensify the taste but also help the fish from turning dry on the grill, which can easily happen with tuna because it’s a very lean fish.
It is usually recommended to grill tuna to medium rare doneness. Rather than going by time, which depends on the thickness of the tuna, use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness. For food safety reasons, we suggest to always cook tuna to at least 140 F, which is medium.
If you prefer your grilled tuna well done, it might be a bit dry. You can counter this by adding a sauce, such as lemon caper sauce.
If there are any leftovers, use them in any recipe that calls for canned tuna, for example to make parmesan tuna sandwiches, or in a niçoise salad. Leftovers keep in the fridge for three to four days.
For side dishes, serve the grilled tuna with a mixed green salad tossed with mushrooms, avocados, and cherry tomatoes, and some savory scones or dinner rolls.
Ingredients
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4 (6- to 8-ounce) tuna steaks
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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3 tablespoons lemon juice
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1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Combine the oil, lemon juice, lemon pepper, salt, and lemon peel in a small bowl and mix well.
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Rub marinade into the tuna steaks. Cover and refrigerate the tuna for 1 to 2 hours.
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Cook on a 2-sided grill for 2 to 3 minutes per each 1/2 inch of meat thickness, until done as desired. You can also cook on charcoal or gas grill, or on a cast-iron grill pan on the stove, 5 to 8 minutes, turning once, until done as you'd like.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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357 | Calories |
8g | Fat |
1g | Carbs |
66g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 4 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 357 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 8g | 10% |
Saturated Fat 1g | 7% |
Cholesterol 107mg | 36% |
Sodium 502mg | 22% |
Total Carbohydrate 1g | 0% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 1% |
Total Sugars 0g | |
Protein 66g | |
Vitamin C 2mg | 11% |
Calcium 12mg | 1% |
Iron 2mg | 12% |
Potassium 1211mg | 26% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
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