5.0 from 48 votes
Seared Tuna Bites Recipe
I've been making these seared tuna bites for years, and despite their elegance, they're surprisingly easy to make. I'll share six tips to ensure your seared tuna bites come out perfectly, every time! Get ready to impress.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 12 pieces
Calories: 29 kcal
Course:
Appetizer
Cuisine:
Spanish
Ingredients
Tapenade
- 10 Manzanilla olives finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon capers minced
- 1 teaspoon EACH: lemon juice and sherry vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon fresh thyme
- 2 anchovy fillets minced
- 3 basil leaves minced
Seared Tuna Bites
- 6 ounces sushi-grade, Pacific Albacore tuna steak
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 12 cucumber slices
- Small basil leaves and black pepper to garnish
Instructions
- To make the tapenade, mix the olives, capers, lemon juice, sherry vinegar, thyme, anchovies, and minced basil in a small bowl.
- Place a cast iron pan over high heat and let it heat until VERY hot.
- While the pan is heating, season both sides of the tuna with pepper and salt. Just before adding the tuna to the pan, pour the oil into the center of the pan and place the tuna on top. Sear for 1 ½ minutes then flip over and sear for 1 ½ minutes more. Remove from the pan, let cool slightly, then slice into 12 pieces.
- Place one piece of tuna on top of each cucumber slice, top with some tapenade, a little basil leaf, and some black pepper.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Note 1: I love using these manzanilla olives from Spain. If you can't find them, use another buttery green olive.
- Note 2: If you use a different olive variety and they have pits, make sure to remove them before mincing the olive meat.
- Note 3: If you don't have sherry vinegar, substitute with apple cider vinegar or champagne vinegar.
- Note 4: This seared tuna can be assembled a few hours in advance and kept in your fridge until you are ready to serve it.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1 seared tuna tapenade bite
Calories
29kcal
(1%)
Carbohydrates
1g
(0%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
2g
(3%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Cholesterol
5mg
(2%)
Sodium
111mg
(5%)
Potassium
49mg
(1%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
318IU
(6%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
6mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12pieces
Amount Per Serving
Calories 29
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 seared tuna tapenade bite | |
| Calories | 29kcal | 1% |
| Carbohydrates | 1g | 0% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 2g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 5mg | 2% |
| Sodium | 111mg | 5% |
| Potassium | 49mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 318IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 6mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.