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Tuna Tataki Salad

The Japanese word “Tataki” refers to the way of cooking fish or meat by briefly searing the outside on a hot flame and leaving the inside raw. This salad combines wonderfully cooked tuna tataki (crispy on the outside and still very moist and soft on the inside) with fresh greens, crunchy roasted garlic, and a creamy, zesty dressing. 

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 334 kcal
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Japanese

Ingredients

  • 12 oz ahi tuna (divide into four 3 oz portions)
  • 8 oz red leaf lettuce mix (baby spinach or other baby spring salad mix)
  • 1 bunch daikon sprouts
  • 1/2 onion (sliced)
  • 6-8 cloves garlic (sliced thin)
  • 3 Tbs olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp Good quality sea salt
  • roasted sesame seeds
  • black pepper (optional)
Dressing
  • 4 Tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp Ponzu Sauce (Kikkoman)
  • 1/2 tsp wasabi (Japanese green mustard)
  • 4 tsp lemon juice

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Make the dressing. Mix the mayo, ponzu sauce, wasabi, and lemon juice. Add more wasabi to taste.
  2. Prepare the greens. Wash and dry 8 oz of baby spring mix. If you have lettuce, wash and tear them into bite-size pieces. Peel the onion and cut it into thin slices. 
  3. Season the fish. Sprinkle some sea salt and black pepper on all sides. Be careful not to salt too much – less is better than more. Finally, coat the tuna with sesame seeds. Set aside.
  4. Make the garlic chips. Cut the garlic cloves into thin slices and fry them in 3 Tbs of olive oil on medium high heat until they are brown and crisp. Watch closely because these little guys brown very quickly! Turn them as soon as they are brown on one side. You can use chopsticks or little tongs to do this or just stir often. 
  5. Sear the tuna. Take the garlic out of the pan and there should be some oil leftover. Do not throw away this oil since it’s now wonderfully seasoned with garlic. Reheat this oil (add a bit more oil if there is not enough to coat the frying pan) on medium high heat and when the pan is nice and hot, start searing the tuna for about 25-30 seconds on each side.
  6. When the tuna is seared on all four sides, let it cool a bit while you get the greens ready for the salad. Do not leave it in the pan because the hot pan will continue to cook the tuna. When sliced, the tuna tataki should still be pink in the middle. 
  7. Slice the tuna and layer it on top of the greens.
  8. Drizzle the dressing on top of the tuna and the greens. Add the daikon sprouts and the garlic chips. 

Notes

  • If you don’t have Ponzu sauce, you can substitute with 2 Tbs of Ponzu sauce with 2 tsp my Apple Lemon soy sauce + 1 tsp yuzu juice or 1 tsp soy sauce + 1 tsp mirin + 1 tsp yuzu juice  or 1 tsp soy sauce + 1 tsp mirin + 1 tsp lime juice + 1/2 tsp sugar. 
  • If you can, buy tuna pieces that are long and narrow in shape. Otherwise cut them so that they are close to a shape of a log.
  • I didn’t try it myself yet but as a variation, I think you can certainly substitute tuna with salmon. Try it if you feel like making the tuna tataki is a bit too much work or if you don’t want to eat raw tuna. Season some salmon with salt and pepper, pan fry it, and serve with the salad.

Nutrition Information

Calories 334kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 4g (1%) Protein 21g (42%) Fat 25g (38%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Cholesterol 38mg (13%) Sodium 650mg (27%) Potassium 358mg (10%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 6105IU (122%) Vitamin C 5.9mg (7%) Calcium 37mg (4%) Iron 1.7mg (9%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 334

% Daily Value*

Calories 334kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 4g 1%
Protein 21g 42%
Fat 25g 38%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 38mg 13%
Sodium 650mg 27%
Potassium 358mg 8%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 6105IU 122%
Vitamin C 5.9mg 7%
Calcium 37mg 4%
Iron 1.7mg 9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.