Did you know that over 20% of American adults eat seafood at least 2 times a week? Not only is seafood delicious, but it’s good for your health too! It’s no wonder why so many people enjoy this cuisine.
One favorite type of seafood is fish; more specifically, tuna. There’s a reason why it’s called chicken of the sea! It’s tasty, healthy, and most importantly, very versatile!
If you’re now wondering about all the ways you can eat bluefin tuna, then you’re in luck. Below are 6 different ways you can eat Atlantic bluefin tuna!
- Steak
You might think that steak is only made with beef and the meat of other land animals, but you’d be wrong! Bluefin tuna is a wonderful type of meat to use for steak, especially if you’re looking for something a bit healthier than red meat.
Some people don’t like the taste of tuna steak all on its own, so before you throw it on the grill (or pan), you can always marinate it. Tuna does well with Asian flavors, as well as sweet sauces, so think of using things like soy sauce and orange juice. You should also add lemon, garlic, and some other spices to add dimension to your tuna steak.
When the tuna steaks are done marinating, lightly brush the grill with oil or add some to your pan. You can then cook your tuna steaks to the desired doneness, as tuna can be eaten raw!
- Confit
You’d usually confit duck or chicken, but the truth is, you can do it with any type of meat! This is because confit is where you preserve and cook meat in fat (usually its own).
Because you’d be hard-pressed to find tuna meat oil, you’ll marinate tuna overnight with plenty of olive oil. You can also throw in some lemon peel if you want a fresher taste.
On the next day, put everything into a saucepan and cook it on medium-low for 5 minutes, or until it’s just a little bit pink in the middle. You can then use a slotted spoon to get the tuna out and onto a place with minimal oil.
- Sushi and Sashimi
One of the best ways to experience the full flavors of this fish is to make bluefin tuna sushi and sashimi.
With sushi, there are endless possibilities! Simply make yourself some sushi rice, put it in some seaweed, and roll it up with some raw tuna. Or you can make it fancier by adding tobiko (flying fish roe), sesame seeds, sauces, etc.
If you really want to treat yourself, then go for otoro sushi. This is a high-grade cut that comes from the belly of bluefin tuna, which means it’s fatty and delicious.
To eat bluefin tuna in its purest form, go for sashimi. This is where you slice up thin cuts of the tuna and either eat it by itself, or with soy sauce, wasabi, or both.
Whichever way you choose to eat bluefin tuna, if you eat it raw, always make sure you buy sushi-grade fish. Otherwise, you run the risk of ingesting harmful bacteria and parasites.
- Baked
Another easy way to eat bluefin tuna is to bake it in your oven. You can just brush it with some oil and sprinkle a little bit of salt on top before you put it in the oven.
For a 1-inch thick filet, you’ll want to bake it for around 10 minutes. This will leave just a little bit of pink on the inside.
If, like with the steak, you don’t like your tuna that plain, you can also marinate it for baking. You can use the ingredients we suggested, or you can pick up premade marinades for steaks and they’ll work just as well. Marinate the tuna for at least 1 hour for the best results.
- Seared in Salads
Salads are fresh and healthy, but without added ingredients to the veggies, you won’t get much protein or energy out of them. Tuna is perfect for salads since it’s lean, which means it’s low in calories and high in protein. It’s also chockful of vitamin A and D, as well as iron.
For added flavor, you should first marinate your bluefin tuna. Then, heat up a cast-iron skillet (or a nonstick pan if you don’t have one). Once it gets very hot, add a little oil.
Now put the tuna into the pan and sear for about 2 minutes on each side. Let the filets rest on a cutting board for a few minutes.
Once the tuna filets have cooled down, slice them into pieces that are half an inch thick. You can then lay these pieces across your salad, sprinkle other ingredients, and drizzle dressing.
- Tartare
Tartare is another way for you to eat bluefin today raw. You’ll get to exercise your knife skills here, because practically all the ingredients need to be chopped up into small cubes, including the tuna. Other ingredients you’ll need to chop up are cucumber, bell peppers, and potatoes.
Of course, you’ll need to cook the potatoes for them to be edible. While you’re doing this, you should salt the cucumber cubes then rinse them off after 5 minutes to get rid of excess water.
You’ll then mix together all the cubed ingredients, as well as some mayonnaise and parsley. Put all the ingredients into a ring, then top with a layer of sour cream.
Once you’ve loosened the ring, you can drizzle some vinaigrette on top.
Start Eating More Bluefin Tuna
Now you’ve learned about various ways to eat bluefin tuna. Does this have you excited about eating more of this fish? With so many ways to prepare this type of seafood, you’ll have plenty of new dishes to try out!
Considering that tuna is good for you, you can also eat it without guilt. So if you weren’t eating tuna before, isn’t it high time you start?
Want to add more recipes to your repertoire? Then keep reading our blog for some inspiration!