Ahi Tuna Sashimi with Sesame Oil and Soy Sauce

Name: Ahi Tuna Sashimi with Sesame Oil and Soy Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 min
Ingredients: ½ pound fresh ahi tuna (sashimi quality); 2 tablespoons roasted sesame oil; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; white and/or black sesame seeds (optional)

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This is a very tasty departure from the usual ahi tuna sashimi with soy sauce on the side. We get fresh ahi, slice it thin, and top with sizzling hot sesame oil and a drizzle of soy sauce. So good ^_^

Ahi tuna is one of the most popular types of sashimi-quality fish in Hawaii. It's everywhere. From Tamashiro's to Foodland and Local I'a (that's where I bought the fish for today's post), there are many places on Oahu to shop for fresh fish.

9 out of 10 times, we enjoy ahi sashimi simply sliced and served with soy sauce and wasabi on the side. Always with a bowl of rice. Perfection!

But sometimes we like to make things "little special." That's when we prepare this sizzling sesame oil and soy sauce on sashimi dish.

Slice the ahi tuna the same way you would for sashimi. But instead of arranging the slices overlapping, lay the slices flat on a plate and pour sizzling hot (almost smoking!) sesame oil over the sashimi. Follow with a drizzle of soy sauce. Super, super onolicious ^_^

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need:

Ahi tuna - make sure it is sashimi-quality! I'm in Honolulu and we usually get ahi for sashimi from Tamashiro's, Foodland, Nijiya, or Local I'a (in Kaimuki). The sashimi pictured in this post is from Local I'a.
Roasted sesame oil
Soy sauce
White sesame seeds and/or black sesame seeds - optional but nice to have.

Instructions

Let's get assembling!

Slice the ahi tuna and arrange on a plate. I like to arrange the slices separately (instead of overlapping) for this dish so that the sesame oil and soy sauce and be drizzled evenly on all the slices.

Add the sesame oil to a small pan over medium heat. Heat until the oil gets super fragrant and nutty. Just as it begins to smoke (this takes 1-2 minutes), turn off heat, and quickly pour the hot sesame oil over the sashimi.

Then drizzle the soy sauce on top. Sprinkle on some roasted sesame seeds if using. Eat right away and enjoy ^_^

FAQ and Tips

Ahi tuna sashimi with sesame oil and soy sauce.

Sizzling hot sesame oil is the key.

It's the same method we use for my favorite tofu dishes. Heating the sesame oil changes the flavor of the sesame oil (makes it so nutty and rich). The hot also brings out the lovely oils of the ahi tuna. Sooo tasty.

Make this dish right before you eat it.

Unlike ahi poke or other raw fish dishes in Hawaii, this is not a dish that you can prepare ahead of time and store in the refrigerator.

The sizzling sesame oil "cooks" the sashimi as soon as you pour it on the sashimi, so you want to start eating it within a couple of minutes of making the dish. Same rule goes for tuna crudo.

To make the ahi tuna easier to slice...

...just put the ahi in the freezer for 5 minutes before slicing.