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There is something about Summer and salads. This is a tasty pear salad with grilled yellowfin tuna.
Arugula greens and slaw mix provide a flavorful and crunchy salad base. Toss in toasted sliced almonds and a handful of feta cheese. Dress with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a quick and fresh salad.
For many people hearing the term, tuna brings up images of tuna in the can.
Yellowfin tuna, named for its bright yellow fins and tail, is completely different. It is a dense fish that is protein-packed.
This is one of my favorite recipes for yellowfin tuna. The best preparation leaves the tuna seared on the outside and pink on the inside for a tender and flavorful fish.
Ingredients
Tuna Selection & Seasoning
Look for a yellowfin tuna fillet that is about 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches thick. This thickness will help ensure that the grilled tuna does not cook too quickly.
Drizzle the fillet with extra virgin olive oil and season with paprika, seafood seasoning, and a bit of cayenne pepper.
Salad Ingredients
- salad greens
- pear
- sliced almonds
- dried cherries
- feta cheese
- balsamic vinegar
- extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
Grilling Yellowfin Tuna
Preparation is key.
Step 1. First, thaw your tuna steak, if frozen. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with paprika, seafood seasoning, and cayenne pepper.
Step 2. For a medium-done tuna steak. Heat your grill to a high temperature. Add tuna steak to direct heat. Grill for 2 minutes. Turn and grill tuna for 2 additional minutes.
Remove tuna from the grill. It should be golden brown on the outside and medium pink on the inside. The internal temperature should be 115-120F.
When served as sushi, tuna steak is often served rare or just lightly seared. So you really can't undercook this fish.
Prefer a less rare steak? Adjust your cooking time to grill for one additional minute on each side. The tuna will be light pink on the inside.
These cooking estimates are based on a tuna steak that is 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick. If you have a thinner fillet you will need to adjust your cooking time.
Don't overcook. Overcooking the tuna will make it dry with a similar texture to canned tuna.
Assemble Salad
Step 1. Collect arugula and slaw mix and add to a large bowl. Mix and toss the greens
Step 2. Toast almonds. Toasted sliced almonds add a smokey flavor. To toast almonds, heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add almonds and stir for 3-5 minutes until they start to brown. Remove from heat and cool. Add to greens.
Step 3. Simply mix and toss your greens. Thinly slice a ripe pear and add to the salad. Add dried cherries, toasted almonds, and feta cheese.
Step 4. Gently flake tuna and add to salad in large chunks.
Step 5. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Often referred to as ahi tuna, yellowfin is a tropical fish. It is named for its bright yellow fins and tail.
You will find yellowfin tuna in densely packed one-inch fillets.
Mild flavored and packed with protein1
You can find yellowfin tuna in the seafood section of your local grocery or through a seafood monger.
In addition, many stores may have precut steak fillets frozen and ready for purchase. Thaw frozen filets prior to seasoning and grilling.
What to Serve with Grilled Yellowfin Tuna and Pear Salad
Serve this salad with a slice of french bread and your favorite white wine or iced tea and you have a light and filling Summer salad.
Looking for a dressing recipe, see my recipe for Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing here.
Other Healthy Salad Recipes for You
Grilled Yellowfin Tuna and Pear Salad Recipe
Equipment
- Grill
Ingredients
Dressing
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Tuna
- 8 oz yellowfin tuna
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp seafood seasoning
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Salad
- 3 cups arugula
- 1 cup slaw mix
- 1 pear sliced
- 1/4 cup almonds toasted
- 2 tbsp cherries, dried
- 1/4 cup feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
Dressing
- Whisk olive oil and balamic vinegar. Set aside.
Tuna
- Spread olive oil on one side of tuna filet and sprinkle with seafood seasoning, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
- Heat grill on high. Place tuna on grill on direct heat and cook for 2 minutes. Time dends on filet thickness and how rare you want the tuna.
- Turn and grill for 2 additional minutes. Tuna is done when the surface is golden, but the inside is a medium pink or when a temperature probe registers 115-120°F. This amount of cook time should result in a mediumrare-done steak. Do not overcook.
- Set aside.
Salad Preparation
- Heat sliced almonds in a non-stick pan. Occasionally shake pan to mix. Lightly brown.
- Place greens, slaw mix, peeled and sliced pear, cherries, and toasted almonds in bowl.
- Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Toss with dressing.
- Flake tuna into large chunks and add to greens.
- Sprinkle with feta cheese and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
October 2022 Update: Minor post updates.
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