Perfectly seared tuna is a deceptively simple dish that relies on some serious skills in timing and technique. Renowned chefs like Gordon Ramsay are quite familiar with seared tuna, and beyond good technique, Ramsay’s recipe involves crusting the tuna in sesame seeds and lots of lime zest to make the masterful dish taste even better.

Ramsey uses lime zest as a more than a mere garnish — he goes all in, adding a generous coating of zest directly to the filet of fresh tuna before crusting it with sesame seeds, which helps the citrus stay adhered to the meat while cooking. Then, once the tuna is seared, he hits the entire dish with more fragrant lime zest.

Employing citrus zest throughout the cooking and plating process is a great seasoning method for rich, strongly-flavored meat dishes like seared tuna. The addition of lime zest adds freshness, both in flavor and aroma, which stands up to the fatty meat and makes the dish more interesting.