tuna chopstick

Tuna. It’s definitely a fish most of us all grew up with. And if you’re anything like one of our RocketNews24 crew, P.K., then you may have grown up believing that tuna only comes from a can!

Though you may associate tuna with cans, that need not be the case. You can actually use fresh tuna in your meals, and today we’ll show you how with a simple recipe that’s sure to impress, even though it requires only five ingredients. Read on to learn how to make this delicious yet simple tuna recipe!

In Japan, canned tuna is often called “sea chicken,” since it tastes like chicken, and the name has spread thanks to Japanese food manufacturer Hagoromo Foods, who officially brand their canned tuna “Sea Chicken.”

ingredients

So, in Japan, as in many other countries, most people associate tuna with something that comes in a can and is used as is rather than something to cook with. But this tuna recipe will hopefully change your mind.

Ingredients:
Two tuna steaks (raw)

tuna slab

Olive oil (can be substituted for vegetable oil)
Two cloves of garlic
Two bay leaves
Salt

Directions:
1. Place the tuna on a baking tray. Season the tuna all over with a good handful of salt, then let it stand for 20 minutes. This helps draw out all the moisture.

tuna salt

2. Pat the tuna with a paper towel to further absorb moisture.

tuna towel

3. Place the tuna, garlic, and bay leaves in a large saucepan, and pour in a generous amount of oil to cover the whole bottom of the pan.

tuna pan

everything in pan

4. Place on a stove and turn heat to the low-medium range. When it starts to boil, turn down to a low heat and let simmer for 20 minutes. Around halfway through, you’ll need to the turn the tuna over to cook the other side. It should look something like this:

tuna cooked

5. Once both sides are cooked and the tuna is no longer red, turn off the heat and allow it to cool.

6. Transfer the contents of the pan to a Tupperware container. (Make sure the oil has cooled sufficiently first!)

tuna tupperware

7. Refrigerate before serving.

Tuna

Our serving suggestion is a la Mount Tuna.

mount tuna

Delicious to the palate and incredibly easy to make, this recipe requires only minimal ingredients and the barest of cooking skills! Now, you’ll never flounder for weekday lunches again!

Of course, you can add extra flavor by seasoning with pepper, a squeeze of lemon juice or mayonnaise (or all three at once, if you’re extra adventurous) — or just sandwich it between a couple of slices of bread.

They say you can tune a piano but you can’t tuna fish, but I beg to differ! With this recipe, you’re sure to hit all the right notes.

All images © RocketNews24
[ Read in Japanese ]