Keto Seared Tuna with Fennel and Pesto

Here's an easy 5-ingredient keto meal that can be prepared in just 15 minutes! Tender tuna steaks served with crunchy balsamic fennel and herb pesto. You can use a classic basil pesto or make your own pesto using any herbs, nuts, seeds and aromatics.

Apart from tuna, this recipe will work well with skin-on or skinless chicken breasts. Chicken will take longer to cook and the time will depend on the thickness. Skinless chicken breasts will be nutritionally closer to tuna but skin-on chicken breasts will be more delicious and they will provide extra flavor!

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Step-by-step

1. Pat dry the tuna steaks with paper towel and brush with about a teaspoon of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper on both sides.

   

2. Remove the fennel fronds and cut it in half. Cut out the core and discard. Finely slice the fennel, or place in a food processor and slice using the fine slicing blade. Place in a mixing bowl. Pour olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the fennel and toss to combine. Set aside.
   Note: If you don't like your fennel too crunchy, cook in a pan over a medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes.

   

3. Sear the tuna for 1-2 minute (rare) to 2-3 minutes (medium) per side. The time needed to cook the tuna will also depend on the thickness of your steaks. If the thickness is 1 inch (2 ¹/₂ cm) or more, cook for 2 to 4 minutes per side. When cooked, transfer to a chopping board and let it rest for 3 to 5 minutes before slicing.

   

4. Serve with the prepared fennel and pesto. Optionally, add fresh herbs such as parsley and/or edible flowers. Eat while still warm.

   

Recipe

Keto Seared Tuna with Fennel and Pesto

★★★★★5.0 (1 rating)

Tender tuna steaks served with crunchy balsamic fennel and pesto. An easy 5-ingredient keto meal in just 15 ...

Hands on

15m

Overall

15m

Servings

1

8.1 g

Net carbs

40.7 g

Protein

42.8 g

Fat

598

kcal

1 serving2 servings3 servings4 servings5 servings6 servings7 servings8 servings9 servings10 servings11 servings12 servings

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Ingredients makes 1 serving

• 1 tuna steak (150 g/ 5.3 oz)
• sea salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp basil pesto (30 ml) - you can make your own pesto
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (30 ml)
• ¹/₂ tsp balsamic vinegar
• ¹/₂ small fennel, core removed (150 g/ 3.5 oz)

Instructions

1. Pat dry the tuna steaks with paper towel and brush with about a teaspoon of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper on both sides.

2. Remove the fennel fronds and cut it in half. Cut out the core and discard. Finely slice the fennel, or place in a food processor and slice using the fine slicing blade. Place in a mixing bowl. Pour olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the fennel and toss to combine. Set aside.
   Note: If you don't like your fennel too crunchy, cook in a pan over a medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Sear the tuna for 1-2 minute (rare) to 2-3 minutes (medium) per side. The time needed to cook the tuna will also depend on the thickness of your steaks. If the thickness is 1 inch (2 ¹/₂ cm) or more, cook for 2 to 4 minutes per side. When cooked, transfer to a chopping board and let it rest for 3 to 5 minutes before slicing.

4. Serve with the prepared fennel and pesto. Optionally, add fresh herbs such as parsley and/or edible flowers. Eat while still warm.

Nutrition per serving, 1 steak with fennel and pesto

Carbs 6%Protein 28%Fat 66% of calories

Net carbs

8.1 g

Total carbs

13.8 g

Fiber

5.7 g

Sugars

6.5 g

Protein

40.7 g

Fat

42.8 g

Saturated fat

6.1 g

Calories

598 kcal

Sodium

826 mg · 35.9% RDA

Magnesium

93 mg · 23.2% RDA

Potassium

1,390 mg · 69.5% EMR

Nutrition by ingredient

Per 1 steak with fennel and pesto	Net carbs	Protein	Fat	kcal
Tuna, yellowfin (fresh)	0 g	36.6 g	0.7 g	164
Salt, sea salt	0 g	0 g	0 g	0
Pepper, black, spices	0.1 g	0 g	0 g	1
Nut-Free & Dairy-Free Basil Pesto, homemade (KetoDiet blog)	1.2 g	2.2 g	14.8 g	146
Olive oil, extra virgin	0 g	0 g	27 g	239
Balsamic vinegar, dark (excludes sweet, syrupy vinegar)	0.5 g	0 g	0 g	2
Fennel bulb, fresh	6.3 g	1.9 g	0.3 g	47
Total	8.1 g	40.7 g	42.8 g	598

Serving size 1 steak with fennel and pesto

• Gluten free
• Dairy free
• Egg free
• Nut free
• Nightshade free
• Pork free
• Avocado free
• Coconut free
• Shellfish free
• Beef free
• Pescatarian