These delicious Ahi Tuna Lettuce Wraps make the perfect healthy meal! You’ll love these refreshing lettuce cups filled with flavorful marinated tuna steaks and crunchy veggies, all finished off with an amazing, creamy dipping sauce.

closeup showing rich ahi tuna lettuce wraps with cucumbers, radishes, and carrots in lettuce cups with a creamy dipping sauce on the side

 

Whether you’re a seafood cooking goddess or a beginner cook just dipping their toes in the water, this Ahi Tuna Lettuce Wrap recipe is going to work great for you! This recipe looks and tastes super impressive and could easily belong on a fancy restaurant menu, but it’s surprisingly easy to make. With only 2 minutes of cooking time, you’ll be able to whip these together on even your busiest night!

While I know my way around a can of tuna, I’m sometimes intimidated by the big tuna steaks at the seafood counter. However, I tried this simple method from White Kitchen Red Wine and absolutely loved how easy and delicious it was! Even if you have never cooked with ahi tuna steaks, I’m confident that you will be in love with the results when using this quick method.

closeup of seared ahi tuna steaks encrusted with sesame seeds resting on a wooden cutting board
a platter with several ahi tuna lettuce wraps beside a bowl of creamy dipping sauce made from mayonnaise, sweet chili garlic sauce, and toasted sesame oil

Why you’ll love this recipe:

  • Healthy: One serving (a fourth of this recipe) is under 300 calories and is low in fat, sodium, cholesterol, and carbs. You get a big dose of protein and flavor, but otherwise this can fit easily into many different types of diets.
  • Quick: Besides the marinating step, you can have these lettuce wraps on the table in about 10 minutes! It’s rare to have a healthy meal be so simple, but this one really is achievable on even your busiest of days.
  • Easy: Most of the work required in this recipe is just slicing the vegetables! The searing is quick and simple—No fancy cooking techniques or difficult timing involved.

Ingredients

all ingredients needed for ahi tuna lettuce wraps on a white countertop

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for this lettuce wrap recipe. Find exact measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

  • Ahi tuna steaks: You’ll want two large, similarly-sized tuna steaks for even cooking. Make sure your steaks are firm (not slimy or mushy) and a nice light pink to dark red color. If frozen, wrap in plastic and place in a bowl of cold water for 30 minutes to thaw.
  • Soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, honey, lemon juice, sweet chili garlic sauce, minced garlic, and minced ginger: These ingredients create a well-balanced, flavorful marinade for the tuna. Replace honey with sugar-free maple syrup if you want to keep it low-carb.
  • Sesame seeds (preferably white and black): This creates a crunchy coating and nice umami flavor.
  • Butter lettuce: Great for holding the filling. Iceberg and romaine could also work.
  • Carrots (finely shredded), baby cucumber (sliced very thinly), small radishes (halved and very thinly sliced), and green onions (chopped): These crunchy, refreshing veggies perfectly contrast with the tender marinated tuna! For the best texture and easiest mouthful, make sure to keep pieces very thin.
  • (Optional) Mayonnaise, sweet chili garlic sauce, and toasted sesame oil: This can create a fantastic dipping sauce if you want to add even more flavor to your wraps! You could also thin it out if you prefer a drizzled sauce instead.

How to make ahi tuna lettuce wraps

This simple wrap recipe is so easy—All you need is a shallow bowl for marinating, a jar/bowl for the dipping sauce, a plate for the seeds, and a large pan and spatula for the searing. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making these perfect every time.

Marinate tuna

marinade ingredients mixed in a measuring cup
Asian marinade poured over two ahi tuna steaks in a shallow white bowl

Combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, sweetener, lemon juice, chili garlic sauce, minced garlic and ginger. Place the ahi tuna steaks into a shallow bowl and pour the marinade over them, using tongs flip the steaks to cover both sides. Chill the steaks for at least three hours, ideally up to 6 hours. 

Prep veggies & dipping sauce

butter lettuce cups filled with thinly sliced cucumbers, radishes, and shredded carrots
a small bowl filled with creamy dipping sauce made from mayonnaise, sweet chili garlic sauce, and sesame oil

When ready to make the lettuce wraps prep the other ingredients before cooking the tuna steaks so you can enjoy them immediately. Separate your lettuce leaves and top each with the shredded carrots, sliced cucumber and radishes, then set this aside.

Make the dipping sauce by whisking together the mayonnaise, sweet chili garlic sauce and toasted sesame seed oil. If you like a thinner sauce, add a teaspoon of water or additional sesame oil until it reaches the consistency you prefer. You can set this aside now as well.

Prep tuna

marinated tuna steak laying on a pile of sesame seeds on a white plate
ahi tuna steak completely coated in crunchy black and white sesame seeds on a white plate

When ready to cook the tuna steaks remove them from the marinade and place the white and black sesame seeds on a plate. Lightly press each side of the tuna into the sesame seeds so each side is lightly coated. 

Cook and rest

two sesame seed encrusted ahi tuna steaks in a cast iron with hot coconut oil
two seared ahi tuna steaks resting on a wooden cutting board

Heat a skillet over high heat. Add 2-3 tablespoons of avocado oil. When the pan is extremely hot carefully add the steaks to the oil. Cook for 45 seconds – 1 minute on each side. (cooking time depends on the level of rareness you prefer your tuna)

Slice and assemble

sesame seed encrusted ahi tuna sliced against the grain in thin slices.
ahi tuna lettuce wraps sprinkled with green onions

Remove the tuna from the pan and allow it to rest 5 minutes. When ready to serve slice the tuna against the grain and add to the lettuce wraps. Top with chopped green onions and additional sesame seeds if desired. Serve with the dipping sauce. 

What to serve with ahi tuna lettuce wraps

For the perfect appetizer or side dish, consider adding these Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts! They use the same dipping sauce and cooks less than 10 minutes. To stretch the meal further, you could enjoy a side of Brussels Sprout Fried Rice, Sesame Noodles, or even a little cucumber salad, too.

ahi tuna lettuce wrap dipped into creamy sweet chili garlic sauce

Storage and reheating

  • Fridge: Seared ahi tuna is still somewhat raw in the middle, so it’s important to move any leftovers to the fridge quickly. Store the tuna, sauce, and vegetables  (in their own airtight containers) separately to prevent veggies from wilting and becoming soggy. Eat within 24 hours.
  • Freezer: The vegetables and sauce do not hold up well texturally to the freezing and thawing process. However, you can freeze any leftover seared tuna! Simply wrap one portion in a few layers of plastic, then aluminum foil, and then store in a ziplock bag to keep it safe from freezer burn. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge or place in a bowl of cold water for 30-40 minutes.
  • Reheating: I prefer to eat any leftovers cold the next day. It’s difficult to reheat the tuna without overcooking it, but it is possible—Heat a skillet to medium-high heat and place seared ahi tuna in for about 30 seconds. Toss, then serve immediately.
overhead view showing a platter with six ahi tuna lettuce wraps with carrots, radishes, cucumbers, and green onions
closeup shot showing velvety slices of seared ahi tuna in lettuce cups with crisp veggies

Tips and Suggestions

  • Marinate 6 hours if possible, but not longer. The citrus in this marinade tenderizes the meat, and it is very effective on the delicate tuna. If you let it marinate longer than 6 hours, your tuna might be mushy, overcooked, or bitter.
  • Keep the veggies thin. Tuna is very rich with a velvety, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Crisp, thin veggies will give the perfect crunch without overwhelming each mouthful with huge chunks of raw vegetables.
  • Use a cooking oil with a high smoke point. I used refined coconut oil that has a smoke point of 400 degrees F. If you have to swap it out, make sure to use something that can withstand the high temperature of searing.
  • Slice against the grain. For the perfect textures, it’s important to cut through the muscle fibers. Your knife should be parallel to the white lines in the tuna when slicing.
a horizontal image showing a platter of juicy ahi tuna lettuce wraps beside a bowl of creamy dipping sauce

Ahi Tuna Lettuce Wraps FAQs

What is Ahi Tuna?

Ahi tuna is a rich-flavored white fish found in tropical or subtropical oceans. It’s best served raw (as poke, sashimi, etc.) or cooked very gently to rare or medium rare for the best flavor and texture. Both yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna are marketed as ahi tuna, and either will work well in this recipe.

Do I have to use tuna?

No, these healthy wraps could also be great filled with this Chili Garlic Salmon, Sesame Soy Pork Chops, Sweet and Spicy Meatballs, Sesame Shrimp, or Orange Sesame Chicken.

Can I make these ahead of time?

The marinade and sauce could be made up to a week ahead of time and refrigerated until you’re ready. The veggies can be prepped and kept in their own separate containers in the fridge for a few days.  Once the tuna steaks are cooked, they are safe to eat for the next 24 hours with the proper refrigeration. Any leftovers would make great cold wraps for lunch the next day, but you don’t want to wait long as the partially raw tuna will go bad faster than fully cooked meat.

overhead shot showing a full platter of six crisp lettuce wraps filled with seared ahi tuna, shredded carrots, and sliced cucumbers and radishes.
closeup shot showing easy ahi tuna lettuce wraps on a platter beside a spoonful of white and black sesame seeds

More great wrap recipes:

ahi tuna lettuce wrap dipped into creamy sweet chili garlic sauce

Get the Recipe: Ahi Tuna Lettuce Wraps

Prep: 3 hours
Cook: 2 minutes
Total: 3 hours 2 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Author: Annie Holmes
These delicious Ahi Tuna Lettuce Wraps make the perfect healthy meal! You’ll love these refreshing lettuce cups filled with flavorful marinated tuna steaks and crunchy veggies, all finished off with an amazing, creamy dipping sauce.
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Ingredients
 

For the Tuna

  • 2 large Ahi Tuna Steaks
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey, or sugar-free maple syrup to keep it low-carb
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon sweet chili garlic sauce
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger
  • 2 tablespoons EACH white sesame seeds and black sesame seeds, for coating

For the Lettuce Wraps

  • 1 head of butter lettuce
  • 1 cup finely shredded carrots
  • 1 cup very thinly sliced baby cucumber
  • 3 small radishes cut in half and very thinly sliced
  • ⅓ cup chopped green onions

Dipping Sauce

  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon sweet chili garlic sauce, or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seed oil, or more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon water, if needed, see notes

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • Combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, sweetener, lemon juice, chili garlic sauce, minced garlic and ginger. Place the ahi tuna steaks into a shallow bowl and pour the marinade over them, using tongs flip the steaks to cover both sides. Chill the steaks for at least three hours, ideally up to 6 hours.
  • When ready to make the lettuce wraps prep the other ingredients before cooking the tuna steaks so you can enjoy them immediately.
  • Prepare the lettuce wraps by separating the lettuce leaves. Top with the shredded carrots, baby cucumber slices, and radishes, set aside.
  • Make the dipping sauce by whisking together the mayonnaise, sweet chili garlic sauce and totasted sesame seed oil.
  • When ready to cook the tuna steaks remove them from the marinade and place the white and black sesame seeds on a plate. Lightly press each side of the tuna into the sesame seeds so each side is lightly coated.
  • Heat a skillet over high heat. Add 2-3 tablespoons of avocado oil. When the pan is extremely hot carefully add the steaks to the oil. Cook for 45 seconds – 1 minute on each side. (cooking time depends on the level of rareness you prefer your tuna)
  • Remove the tuna from the pan and allow it to rest 5 minutes. When ready to serve slice the tuna against the grain and add to the lettuce wraps.
  • Top with chopped green onions and additional sesame seeds if desired. Serve with the dipping sauce.

Notes

When made with sugar-free maple syrup instead of honey, each serving (1/4th of recipe) has 5.6 net carbs, assuming the tuna absorbs roughly half of the marinade.
Serving: 0.25 of recipe (made with sugar-free maple syrup), Calories: 279kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 23.7g, Fat: 17.1g, Cholesterol: 39mg, Sodium: 398.4mg, Fiber: 2.4g, Sugar: 2.8g
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