Tuna Tacos with Cilantro Lime Slaw

These Ahi Tuna Tacos are bursting with flavor! They pair seared ahi tuna with cilantro slaw and creamy chipotle custard.

Do you like a good fish taco? Here’s a new trick you’ll be just as hard to fall for: Ahi tuna tacos! The meaty tuna steak is the perfect topping for a taco, contrasted with fresh cilantro and lime slaw. Top it off with chipotle sauce and another sprinkling of cilantro, and there’s a little bit of everything: salty, spicy, crisp, fresh, and creamy. It’s great for a simple weeknight dinner, but impressive enough to entertain. If you’re a tuna steak lover like us, you’ll love this unique way of serving this versatile fish.

Items in tuna tacos

These tuna tacos are a variation on the fish taco that was invented in Mexico’s Baja California peninsula in the 1950s. In fact, the Mexican cities of Ensenada and San Felipe claim to have invented the fish taco! The idea then quickly spread across the border to San Diego, where they became popular in America in the 1980s (primarily at a restaurant called Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill).

This recipe attempts to honor traditional Mexican flavors by using seared tuna instead of the typical breaded fish and pairing it with a fresh and flavorful coleslaw. Here are the elements of these ahi tuna tacos:

• Ahi tuna steaks
• Spices: Cumin, Chili Powder, Smoked Paprika Powder, Garlic Powder, and onion powder
• Cilantro Lime Salad
• Chipotle cream (or alternative sauce; see below)
• Tortillas
• Red onion (for garnish)

Ahi Tuna Steak Buying Tips

Ahi tuna, also known as albacore tuna or bigeye tuna, is a soft, lean fish that is typically served as sushi, in poke bowls, or cooked raw or medium-hard. Here’s what to look for when shopping for tuna steaks for these tuna tacos:

• Make sure it’s sushi or sashimi grade. There are no specific requirements for the sushi quality label, but it does mean that the fish is of high quality and safe to eat raw.
• Check out the fish market. You should be able to get ahi tuna steaks over the counter at your local grocery store.
• Look for frozen steaks. Or your grocery store might have frozen steaks. These can be even fresher than fresh tuna if frozen immediately after being caught. They just need to be thawed in the fridge the day before.
• find wild caught. Wild-caught fish is generally a sustainable choice. There are also quality options at well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch consumer guide.

How to cook a tuna steak

Once you have a nice piece of fish, the hardest part of this recipe is searing the tuna. Here are some tips for preparing tuna steaks:

• Let it come up to room temperature first! This is important: otherwise the inside will still be cold when the outside is done! Let stand at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before baking. You can use this time to prepare the coleslaw and sauce, and sear the fish just before serving.
• Use a food thermometer to measure the temperature (130 degrees Fahrenheit). Place the steaks in a skillet and sear 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until lightly browned on the outside but still brown on the inside. For a medium-rare tuna steak, the internal temperature should be 130 degrees Fahrenheit as measured at the thickest part with a food thermometer.
• Rest 2 minutes. This will help hold it in place and make it easier to cut.

For the cilantro lime salad

A good fish taco often comes with a creamy slaw, and this one is no exception! The cilantro lime slaw in these tacos is so good, you’ll be eating it over and over again. This recipe has a little shortcut so you don’t spend too much time chopping. Use a bag of coleslaw mix, then combine with shredded red cabbage! This gives a nice mix of colors and textures.

Tip: Got some leftover cilantro lime slaw? Eat it as a side with tacos!

Tuna Taco Sauces

These tuna tacos are fantastically drizzled with chipotle cream, which adds a savory creaminess and a bit of smoky spiciness. Stir in while your tuna is at room temperature, or try one of these alternative sauces depending on your preference and what you have on hand:

• Chipotle Cream: A sauce made from sour cream with adobo sauce, garlic and lime
• Chipotle Sauce: A flavorful vegan sauce with tahini, adobo sauce and lime
• yum yum sauce: A savory sweet sauce made from Japanese steakhouse mayonnaise (not spicy)

More tuna recipes

Tuna is a versatile fish! Here are some other great tuna steak recipes with prep ideas:

This tuna taco recipe is…

Pescetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free (with chipotle sauce).