How to Season Tuna

Co-authored by Daniel Siriban

Tuna is a tasty and healthy protein that can be seasoned and prepared in a variety of different ways. For example, you can make grilled tuna steaks, tuna burgers, tuna salad, and even tuna casserole. To season tuna, try making a tuna marinade, a tuna spice rub, or a variety of different recipes that incorporate canned tuna.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating a Tuna Marinade

1
Make a soy-based marinade. This will help to flavour the tuna steak and keep it moist while cooking. For example, combine 1 cup (236 ml) of soy sauce, ½ cup (118 ml) of lemon juice, and 2 cloves of minced garlic in a medium bowl. Then add salt and pepper to taste.^{[1]
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- Alternatively, you could place the ingredients in a resealable plastic bag.
2
Add tuna to the marinade. Once you have completed the marinade, add the tuna to the bowl or plastic bag. Dip the tuna entirely into the liquid marinade, so that all sides of the steak are coated.^{[2]
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3
Refrigerate the tuna in the marinade. Place the tuna and marinade in the refrigerator for anywhere from 15 minutes to 4 hours. You can flip the tuna once in order to make sure that all sides are coated and flavoured.^{[3]
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- The tuna is now ready to be cooked.
4
Experiment with different marinade flavors. Tuna can be marinated in a variety of different flavours. For example, you could replace the lemon juice with orange juice, or use teriyaki sauce as well as soy sauce. Search online for a variety of tuna marinade recipes and experiment until you find one that you like.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making a Tuna Rub

1
Pat the tuna steak dry with paper towel. This will help the spices stick to the tuna. Alternatively, if you are grilling the tuna steaks, then you may want to lightly brush them with oil before rubbing with spices. This will prevent the tuna from sticking to the grill.^{[5]
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2
Make a simple dry rub with salt and pepper.^{[6]
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Daniel Siriban
Japanese Personal Chef
Expert Interview. 1 September 2021.} In a small bowl combine together 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. For a spicier flavor substitute the back pepper with cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. You could also try garlic salt or sea salt to expand the flavor.^{[7]
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3
Create a blackened tuna rub. In order to make a blackened tuna rub, combine paprika, oregano, thyme, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt in a bowl. Taste the seasoning and adjust the quantities when you reach a flavor you enjoy.^{[8]
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- You can search online to find a recipe for a delicious tuna rub or experiment with the spices and herbs that you have on hand.
4
Rub the seasoning onto the tuna.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Daniel Siriban
Japanese Personal Chef
Expert Interview. 1 September 2021.} You can do this by sprinkling the spice mix onto a cutting board and then pressing all sides of the tuna into the spices. Alternatively, you can sprinkle the spice mix directly onto each side of the tuna and then massage it into the meat using your hands.^{[10]
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- The tuna is now seasoned and ready to be cooked.
- Try searing your tuna after seasoning it. Use a torch or a flat iron grill for better results.^{[11]
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  Expert Source
  
  Daniel Siriban
  Japanese Personal Chef
  Expert Interview. 1 September 2021.}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Seasoning Canned Tuna

1
Make a tuna salad. The most common way to eat canned tuna is by making a tuna salad. Typically, this consists of mixing canned tuna with mayonnaise and a variety of chopped vegetables, such as carrots, celery, cucumber, or tomato. Then add salt and pepper to taste.
- Tuna salad can be served on a sandwich or over a bed of greens. This creates a simple and tasty meal.
2
Try a tuna casserole. Tuna casserole is a tasty and simple way to incorporate tuna into your diet. To make tuna casserole, you will need to combine canned tuna with noodles, cream of mushroom soup, peas, onions, and any other vegetables. Then bake the dish in the oven and finally sprinkle with cheese before serving.
3
Create tuna patties. Canned tuna can also be used to make tuna patties that can then be served as burgers or eaten on their own with a bit of tartar sauce and lemon juice.^{[12]
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Warnings

Tuna can contain traces of mercury. As a result, children, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age should limit their consumption of tuna. Talk with your doctor to find out how often you should consume tuna.

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