Sesame Grilled Tuna and Cucumber Salad is a light, protein-packed dish that’s all about clean flavors, crisp textures, and fresh ingredients. It’s ideal for lunch on a warm day or a healthy dinner that doesn’t feel like a compromise.
The tuna is the star here. Choose a fresh, sushi-grade tuna steak and coat it with a generous layer of sesame seeds, both white and black if possible, to add a nutty flavor and a subtle crunch. A quick sear on a hot grill or grill pan gives the tuna a smoky edge while keeping the center perfectly rare and buttery. The contrast between the warm, seared exterior and the cool, tender middle makes every bite feel special.
Cucumbers bring a cooling balance to the richness of the tuna. Thinly sliced and lightly salted to draw out excess moisture, they become crisp and slightly sweet. You can add extras like radishes for a peppery note or avocado slices for creaminess.
The dressing ties everything together with a mix of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and a touch of honey or maple syrup. Grated ginger and a splash of lime juice add brightness and just the right amount of tang. Drizzle this over the salad just before serving so the cucumbers stay crisp.
Fresh herbs like cilantro or mint bring a burst of freshness, while a sprinkle of chopped scallions and toasted sesame seeds adds flavor and texture. If you want to make it heartier, serve the salad over a bed of chilled soba noodles or jasmine rice.
Sesame Grilled Tuna and Cucumber Salad is elegant enough for entertaining but easy enough for a weeknight dinner. It’s healthy, balanced, and full of vibrant, clean flavors that leave you feeling satisfied without being weighed down.
Ingredients
- 2 tuna steaks
- 1 cucumber thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat grill to high heat.
- Season tuna steaks with salt and pepper.
- Grill tuna for 3-4 minutes per side, or until desired doneness.
- In a small bowl, whisk together sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and sesame seeds.
- In a large bowl, combine sliced cucumber and the sesame dressing. Toss to coat.
- Thinly slice grilled tuna and serve over the cucumber salad.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Quick and easy! Perfect for a weeknight dinner. I just used the oven instead of grilling.
I didn’t have sesame oil so I used olive oil. Still turned out okay, but not the same. 🤷
Good on you for using what you had! Olive oil is definitely different, but the salad still sounds tasty!
Seriously? Honey with tuna? That sounds awful. Who came up with this?
Uhh, I didn’t have honey, so I used sugar. Still turned out okay… kind of.
Not sure how sugar works here. Honey is sweeter and thicker, ya know? But if it was okay, that’s cool.
Using sugar instead of honey? That’s different! I guess it could work, but honey adds a nice depth of flavor.
So easy to make! My kids loved it! I added some avocado too. Yum!
Just made this for dinner and it was so good. Perfect summer meal!
That sounds delicious! I’m definitely trying this next weekend. Thanks for sharing!
Summer meal? I dunno, grilled fish in winter sounds good too! Just sayin’.
I don’t eat fish. Can someone try it with chicken instead? Asking for a friend.
The grilled tuna was good but I think I overcooked it a bit. Next time I’ll be more careful! Still tasty tho.
Easy to make but didn’t really tickle my taste buds. The honey was a bit much in my opinion.
Not good. Didn’t have rice vinegar, used apple instead, fish was awful!
Sorry to hear that! Maybe try it again with the right ingredients next time?
This was amazing! I love tuna and the dressing was perfect. Will make again!
Not a big fan of cucumber, but for some reason it worked here. Surprised!
I’m glad you liked it! Cucumber can be hit or miss sometimes, but I find it refreshing. Have you tried it with lime instead of lemon?
I still don’t get how anyone likes cucumber… but hey, if it worked for you, that’s cool.😅
I don’t like fish, but my husband loved it! He says it’s one of the best things I’ve ever made, so good!
Sounds fancy but I don’t have a grill. Can I cook the tuna in a pan? 🤔
Yes, you can definitely cook the tuna in a pan! Just make sure it’s hot enough and sear it for a few minutes on each side. Hope it turns out great! 😊
Tuna is gross. This recipe is just wrong lol. Wouldn’t try it.
Tuna yum!
I tried this, but the tuna came out a bit dry for me. Maybe I grilled it too long.
I think grilling it just a minute less could help! Tuna is tricky, but when it’s right, it’s amazing. 😊
I don’t like tuna much. I used chicken instead and it turned out fine, just saying.
OMG, sooooo tasty! I might make this every week! 😊
Totally agree! This recipe is a game changer! I can’t stop thinking about it! 😋
Delish!!! 🥰
This was super delicious! The tuna was cooked to perfection and the salad was so refreshing. Will make again!
Meh! I thought it would be more exciting. Just grilled fish and cucumbers…
This recipe was amazing! I loved the dressing, it was so flavorful!
I tried this but the tuna ended up too dry. Gonna skip the grilling next time.
I had the same problem! I think the grilling times are off. I usually grill it less to keep it juicy. Maybe try searing it on a pan next time?
Delish! The sesame seeds made it all the better. Will definitely make again!
Tried this but my grilled tuna ended up kind of dry. Not sure if I did something wrong.
What a refreshing salad! I added some avocado slices, and it was delicious. Yum!
I’m confused. Is sesame oil just regular olive oil with sesame seeds put in it? Hmmm.
I don’t think the honey belongs in this recipe. Tuna and honey? Really? It was kinda weird.
Cucumbers r my fav!! This is a great recipe, but where do u find fresh tuna in winter?
Fantastic! Can’t wait to show my friends at the next BBQ!
Yasss! This is my new fav recipe! Can’t wait to show my friends! ❤️
This sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it myself. Yummy! 😍
Who knew tuna could taste this good? I’m adding this to my dinner rotation!
This tuna recipe is fantastic! So easy and quick. Will definitely make again!
This was really good, but I think I overcooked the tuna a bit. Gotta practice more on grilling! But the salad was YUM! 🍣
Loved the sesame oil in it! The cucumber is such a nice crunch. Great balance.
This recipe is sooo good! The tuna was perfect on the grill, and the salad really refreshes it.
I can’t wait to try this! Tuna on the grill sounds amazing. 🍽️
I tried it, but my tuna ended up kinda dry. Maybe I overcooked it? 🤔
Who grills tuna? Just pan fry it! Easier and tasty. Hoping this won’t taste too dry. 😐
I’ve grilled tuna before, and it can be sooo good! Just gotta watch it. Pan frying is fine too, but grilling gives it a nice flavor! Hope it turns out delicious for you! 🍽️
Grilling? I thought tuna was like only for sushi or something. Fried is better lol. 🔥
Delicious!
Eh, it was okay. Tuna was dry. Maybe need more honey or something IDK.
I made a mess of the dressing, it was too runny now my salad looks sad. Still edible tho.
Don’t worry! I’ve had my fair share of dressing disasters too. Just add some more cucumber to balance it out! 😅
5 stars for sure. So fresh and delish! My kids even liked it! ✅
Easy recipe. But where do you find sesame seeds? I looked everywhere!
Grilling fish is hard, right? I messed up and burned mine. Need practice!
Grilling can be tricky! Just practice, you’ll get the hang of it. The marinade sounds delicious!
Yum! Who knew sesame went so well with tuna! My family loved it.
Sounds good, but my mom always said tuna is best with mayo. Not sure about this sesame stuff.
I never thought of adding honey to tuna! That’s a cool idea. Gonna try it next time! 🍯
Cucumber salad is not for me, but the grilled tuna was on point! A bit too much steps tho.
Tried this recipe and my family loved it! So simple and fresh. Will make again!
I’m glad to hear you loved it! Tuna and cucumber really are a great combo. Do you think it would work with chicken too?
Wow, sounds easy! But what if you burn the tuna? It’s so easy to mess up fish on the grill. 🤔
I don’t understand how you can grill tuna in just 3-4 minutes? Took me way longer for it to look done. 🤔
I added avocado and it was a game changer! Highly recommend!
So easy! Took me only 20 mins. 👍 Will make for my family BBQ this weekend, hope they like it!
What if they don’t like tuna? Just sayin’. 🤔
Sounds fantastic! I’m sure your family will love it. 🎉
This dish is not good for people like me who prefer cooked tuna! Yikes! 🤢
I totally get you! Cooked tuna definitely has its charm. This might not be for everyone.
But grilled tuna is amazing! You might want to give it another shot, maybe try cooking it a bit longer?
This was an amazing recipe! The tuna came out perfect and the dressing was delicious. Definitely making this again!
I’m glad you loved it! The dressing really does make it! Trying this recipe myself soon.
I don’t know… tuna is kinda fishy for me. How can you enjoy that?
Good but had to replace honey with sugar. Didn’t have any honey in the kitchen.
Tuna and cucumbers? Who thought that combo would work? But wow, it shure does! Love it!
Tuna came out nicely with 3 min a side—super juicy. Dressing was sweet-salty in a good way, and the cucumber stayed crisp. Will make again.
Tuna and cucumber? Sounds weird! But the honey made it sweet and tasty. Didn’t think I’d like it, but I did!
This recipe was amazing! The flavor of the sesame oil really brought the dish together.
I totally agree! The sesame oil adds such a unique taste. Can’t wait to make it again!
Was it really that good? I don’t like sesame oil much. Maybe I’ll skip it.
The salad was fresh, but the dressing could use a bit more kick.
The combo of sesame and cucumber is really fresh. My kids loved it too! Fantastic summer dish.
Loved it! My dinner guests thought I was a chef! 🥳
It was okay but the tuna was a bit too raw for my liking. Should have cooked it longer.
Simple yet delicious! I added some avocado for extra creaminess. Yummy!
Yum, yum! I love tuna and this salad is so refreshing.
Wait, you can grill tuna? I thought that was for beef only. Lol.
Yes, you can! Tuna is actually great on the grill. It gives it a nice smoky flavor! 😋
Too complicated for me. I’m not real good in the kitchen.
I get it, some recipes can be intimidating! But don’t worry, this one’s not too bad. Just take it step by step. You got this!
Rice vinegar? I used lemon juice cuz that’s what I had and it came out… okay. Still good, but not the same zing. I guess the rice vinegar matters.
Tuna salad on a grill? Kinda sus ngl 😅 But the flavors sounded right. I was pleasantly surprised—super refreshing.
I think the tuna was too fishy. Maybe it’s just me. But my kids wouldn’t touch it.
I don’t know what went wrong, but my tuna turned out too dry. Maybe I cooked it too long? I’ll keep trying.
This was amazing! The flavors were perfect, especially the sesame dressing. Will make again!
Looks good!
The ingredient list is simple, which I appreciate. However, “high heat” is kinda vague. I wish it said something like gas grill vs charcoal temps.
Totally agree—“high heat” is super subjective. For a gas grill I usually mean around 450–500°F, and charcoal is when you’ve got a steady blaze with no big flames. Wish it clarified that like you said.
I tried it and it came out fine. I just cranked my grill to the highest setting and watched the tuna—3-4 minutes per side was enough for me. Next time I’ll probably add a little more honey too (sounds weird but yeah).
I followed it exactly and the cucumber stayed a bit watery. Next time I’ll salt the cucumber briefly and pat dry before dressing.
I tried this and it tasted kinda bland? I didn’t add enough salt and pepper maybe, but the sauce didn’t really pop for me. Still, the cucumber was refreshing.
Not bad, but I think it needs more seasoning. Like maybe ginger or garlic—right now it’s kinda simple.
Loved the sweet-savory balance! The honey + rice vinegar combo really makes the cucumber pop. I grilled mine a touch longer and it was still tender.
I liked it, but my tuna was a bit overcooked at 3-4 min a side. Maybe my grill runs hotter? Still tasty though, and the dressing clings nicely to the cucumber.
Wow, the sesame-soy-honey combo sounds dangerously good. I love how quick it is—perfect for a weeknight. I might add some sliced scallions too.
That’s exactly what I was going for—fast but still has big flavor. Scallions would be a great add; I think they’d make it even fresher with the cucumber. 😋
I was skeptical about the honey, but honestly it balanced the soy and vinegar really well. Sesame seeds add a nice little crunch.
My dressing came out too thick because I used extra sesame seeds. Still tasted good though—next time I’ll whisk more thoroughly.
Not sure about “3–4 minutes per side” for tuna. Mine always overcooks fast—maybe depends on thickness? Still, the flavors sound good.
3-4 minutes per side seems too long for me 😅 last time tuna turned dry like… chalk. Maybe your grill is hotter? I would say do like 2 min per side and check. The cucumber salad part sounds nice!
Good point—tuna really does cook fast and thickness matters a ton. I usually go by doneness instead of minutes. Those flavors sound spot on though (sesame + soy + honey is a winner).
Not bad, but I think 4 minutes per side was a bit too much for my tuna. It turned slightly dry. Also I used regular vinegar and it tasted off compared to rice vinegar.
I disagree a little 😅 4 minutes is fine if your steaks are thick and the grill is really hot. Dry tuna for me only happens when I over-salt or leave it too long off the heat. Also regular vinegar vs rice vinegar could be why it tasted “off.”
Good point—tuna can go dry fast. I usually do closer to 2–3 min/side depending on thickness, so your experience totally makes sense. I’ll tweak my timing next time.
Quick question: do you cook the tuna the same if it’s frozen? Also, my cucumber was watery so next time I’ll salt it first. Flavor was great, just texture issues.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about putting honey in a soy-vinegar dressing. But it works—really fresh and bright. Will make again.
Same! I didn’t think honey would fit with soy + vinegar, but it really balances it out. I’ve made it a couple times now and it’s always super bright—great call on making it again.
I made something like this once, and the dressing was the best part. I’d just watch the honey quantity because it can get too sweet if you eyeball it.
I did 3 minutes per side and it was perfect medium-rare. Sesame seeds on top are a must. My roommates even asked what I seasoned it with.
Hmm I tried this but mine came out more like medium than medium-rare at 3 mins. Maybe my grill runs hotter? Also I didn’t have rice vinegar so I used lemon juice, still kinda good. Would try again though.
Yes!! 3 minutes per side is exactly what mine needed too. The sesame seeds really make it—like instant “restaurant” vibes. I also added a pinch more pepper and it was perfect.
This is pretty solid, but 3-4 min per side depends a lot on tuna thickness. I’d recommend checking doneness instead of sticking to the timer.
This sounds like a fancy restaurant lunch. The sesame oil + honey combo is such a good sweet-salty balance. I’d probably add a little ginger next time.
Okay, I’m not a grill person, so I pan-seared the tuna. It worked and the salad was fresh and crunchy. Would make again.
Nice! Pan-searing tuna can definitely work—glad it turned out. I love how the cucumber stays crunchy with that sesame dressing.
This sounds super fresh and not too heavy. I love anything with sesame oil + rice vinegar—perfect quick dinner vibe.
Way too healthy for me lol. Jokes aside, it’s light and tasty. Would’ve liked it with avocado or something creamy.
Cucumber + soy dressing is kinda weird to me but I guess it’s like a salad. Sesame seeds on top are a must though.
I don’t really like raw-ish tuna, so grilling for 3-4 min isn’t for me. The dressing though… could be used on salads with chicken. idk.
Honestly the dressing sounds way better than the tuna part. I’d do it on a chicken salad or even just cucumbers. Also “3-4 min per side” seems kinda risky, my grill cooks fast 😅
Totally get that—raw-ish tuna is a love/hate thing. If you don’t like it, you can grill a bit longer to your preferred doneness and still keep it juicy.
Grill tips pls? Tuna dry 😭
Mine stuck to the grill a bit even though I preheated well—next time I’ll oil the grates. Flavor was still solid though, especially the dressing.
Wow, the sesame + honey dressing sounds like a perfect sweet-salty combo. I also like that it’s not a complicated marinade situation—just whisk and toss. Definitely trying this soon!
The honey feels random but it’s actually great. It gives a nice glaze. I added a little chili too and it was chef’s kiss.
Sesame oil is strong—start with less if you’re sensitive. I accidentally poured with confidence and it overpowered the soy.
My grill runs hot and I think I messed up the timing—mine came out more like medium-well than “desired doneness.” Flavor was nice, but texture suffered. Next time I’ll watch it closer.
Yeah, that happens a lot with hot grills—tuna goes from perfect to “meh” fast. I usually do closer to 2–3 min per side on high, then pull it a little early and let it rest 1 min. Your flavor note sounds like the dressing is solid at least!
Medium-well tuna is basically tuna jerky 😂 Next time try not to put the steaks right on blazing heat… maybe turn it down? Also I think 3-4 minutes per side is too long for tuna, unless your steaks are super thick. Hope it comes out better!
I made something similar before and the key is really not overcooking the tuna. 3-4 minutes a side depends on thickness, though—mine was closer to 2. Still super tasty with the cucumber crunch.
Honey in a tuna salad? Not sure about that. It’s like sweet and fish together which can be good I guess, but I’d probably cut the honey in half first.
I get the hesitation, but honey works really well with soy + rice vinegar. It balances the tang and helps the sesame dressing cling to the cucumber. I wouldn’t necessarily cut it in half, but adjusting to taste is totally fair.
Honey in tuna is kinda weird ngl 😅 but if you use only 1 tbsp and mix it good, maybe it ain’t bad. I’d try it once and see.