Ahi Tuna Lettuce Cups are the most delicious easy weeknight dinner! With a few simple and fresh ingredients and a homemade sesame soy sauce, this recipe is super healthy and simple to make.
If you're looking to add more veggie packed recipes to your rotation in 2022, this is the recipe for you! This one is so delicious for a quick weeknight dinner or a fancy lunch - if you work from home, this is totally doable for lunchtime.
Recipe Inspiration
Ahi tuna is consistently one of my favorite go-to fish. It's easy to make, so high in protein, and so delicious! After living above a poke shop after I graduated from college, I eat Ahi tuna almost every week.
With the New Year and the holidays over, I'm looking for some fresh and simple meals to power me through January. These lettuce cups are just that - so easy, fresh, and perfect for a busy start to 2022.
This Ahi Tuna Lettuce Wraps recipe only requires 10 ingredients and 10 minutes of your time. Let's make it together!
Ahi Tuna Lettuce Cups Ingredients
Here are the 10 ingredients you will need for this recipe:
- Soy Sauce
- Sesame Oil
- Corn Starch
- Ahi Tuna
- Salt and Pepper
- Olive Oil
- Butter Lettuce
- Shredded Carrots
- Cucumber
- Avocado
Directions
First, make the sauce. Combine soy sauce, sesame oil, and corn starch in a small bowl. Whisk well and set aside.
Pat Ahi Tuna dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a pan on medium-high heat and add olive oil. When olive oil is shimmering, add the Ahi Tuna and sear for two minutes preside. The goal is to have the outside seared but the inside rare. Remove tuna from skillet and set aside.
Slice Ahi Tuna thinly. Assemble the lettuce cups buy adding sliced Ahi, shredded carrots, cucumber slices, and avocado to butter lettuce pieces. Top butter lettuce cups with sesame sauce and serve.
Kitchen Equipment
Here is some kitchen equipment that you will need for this recipe. You can find all of the following products on Amazon.
Skillet: Use a good non-stick skillet for cooking fish. This will prevent the fish from sticking, plus you don't need too much oil or butter in the pan. This one is a great quality pan that will last.
Serving tray: I love serving this on a tray and letting everyone add their own veggies to the lettuce cups. Check out this classic serving tray that's great for everyday use.
Fish Spatula: If you make fish frequently, you should definitely buy yourself a fish spatula! This comes in handy making any type of fish. This would also be a good gift for any home cook! Check out this one at a great price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions for this recipe:
Ahi is a type of tuna. There are two species of Ahi Tuna - yellowfin and bigeye tuna and they are often interchanged. Ahi Tuna is commonly served seared on the outside and rare in the middle.
Check that the Ahi Tuna is sushi grade. If your tuna is sushi grade, it can be eaten raw.
Recipe Substituions/Variations
You can make a variety of substitutions and variations for this Ahi Tuna Lettuce Cup recipe. Here are a few:
Fish - Don't like Ahi Tuna? No problem! You can make this recipe with any other seared fish. Salmon or Cod would be a great substitution here. You could also easily swap out fish for ground or shredded chicken.
Vegetables - Add as many veggies as you like! Bell peppers, radishes, or arugula would all make great additions to these lettuce cups. Or, just use what you have on hand.
Add Carbs - If you want to make this meal a little more filling, pair with sushi rice, brown rice, or quinoa. This is my favorite brand of sushi rice that I buy on Amazon - it's sooo good!
More Seafood Recipes
Looking for more delicious seafood recipes? Check out some of our favorites!
Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna - This is one of my go-to recipes for Ahi Tuna. It's delicious and perfect for an easy weeknight healthy meal! This tuna is great for rice bowls, salads, or meal prep.
Pan Seared Salmon and Chimichurri - I love salmon, and this easy recipe is easy and delicious! A simple pan seared salmon is elevated with an easy chimichurri sauce. This one is easier than it looks and tastes so good. Love this recipe for a relaxed date night at home.
Mussels with Israeli Couscous and Tomato Broth - Mussels are an often overlooked seafood, but they are really affordable and super packed with protein. I love them with a tomato broth filled with Israeli couscous. Yum! If you like mussels, you'll love this delicious take on them.
Ahi Tuna Lettuce Cups
Ingredients
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- 2 lbs Ahi Tuna
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 head butter lettuce
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ½ cucumber sliced thinly
- 1 avocado sliced thinly
Instructions
- Combine soy sauce, sesame oil, and corn starch in a small bowl. Whisk well and set aside.
- Pat Ahi Tuna dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat a pan on medium-high heat and add olive oil. When olive oil is shimmering, add Ahi Tuna and sear for 2 minutes per side, until the outside is seared, but the inside is rare. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Slice Ahi Tuna thinly. Assemble lettuce cups by adding sliced Ahi Tuna, shredded carrots, cucumber slices, and avocado slices to butter lettuce pieces.
- Top lettuce cups with sesame sauce and serve.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Leave a comment below or tag us @tasting.with.tina on Instagram!
Michelle says
Easy and delicious!
Christina Musgrave says
Thanks, Michelle!
Molly says
Loved this recipe! The sauce, however, was not quite our taste. There just wasn't enough balance with only the soy sauce and sesame oil.
Alternately, we made a slightly difference sauce. Start with 1 pt rice vinegar, 1pt sugar, 2pts soy sauce, and just a tiny drizzle of sesame oil in a saucepan on medium heat. Then add salt and a little sriracha to taste to balance the sweetness and cook down until desired consistency.