Sicilian-style tuna
- Difficulty: Easy
- Prep time: 25 min
- Cook time: 30 min
- Serving: 4
- Cost: Average
PRESENTATION
When you think of Sicilian-style tuna, imagine a dish bursting with bright colors and aromas straight from Sicily. It's really something. Fresh tuna steaks totally steal the show here, absorbing a sauce that’s just packed with flavor. The sauce? It captures the heart of southern Italy with juicy cherry tomatoes, plump black olives, and zesty capers.
And look, the tomatoes break down, adding a moist richness, while the olives and capers bring a salty brine that’s just perfect. Locals in Sicily use whatever olives and capers they can find, creating a Sicilian tuna recipe that’s always fresh and bright. It’s simple, yet feels like someone put a lot of care into it—golden flavors of sea and land coming together on one plate.
In the coastal towns of Sicily, this Sicilian tuna steak is a staple at family gatherings when the tuna catch is good. It's not just about the fish. I mean, the way the capers add a tangy kick and the tomatoes become sweet and jammy is really something special. People often toss in herbs from the garden, like oregano or fresh basil, to give the sauce an extra lift.
And here's the thing, unlike some seafood dishes that might seem fancy, this Sicilian tuna recipe is about gathering folks around a plate of tender fish and bold Mediterranean flavors. Pretty simple. People in Sicily love to keep things relaxed—maybe with some crusty bread on the side to soak up the sauce, or a simple salad. Whether you call it tuna with olives and capers or just a really, really good Mediterranean tuna dish, it’s a meal packed with sunny Sicilian spirit.
Each bite feels like hanging out by the sea, surrounded by good food and friends, capturing the heart of Sicilian life beautifully. Enjoying this dish is like taking a little trip to Sicily without even leaving your table. Super tasty.
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- INGREDIENTS
- Tuna filet 1.1 lbs (500 g)
- Piccadilly tomatoes 2 ¼ cups (400 g)
- Red onions 0.4 cup (60 g)
- Taggiasca olives 0.7 oz (20 g)
- Capers 2 tsp (10 g)
- Fresh chili pepper 1
- Mint 1 tuft
- Lemon peel 1
- Extra virgin olive oil to taste
- Fine salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
How to prepare Sicilian-style tuna
To prepare Sicilian-style tuna, start with the tomatoes: Immerse the whole tomatoes in boiling water for about 3 minutes 1, then drain them 2 and transfer them immediately to cold water 3.
As soon as they are warm to the touch, peel them 4 and dice them, removing the seeds from the flesh 5. Trim and thinly slice the red onion 6.
Place the onions in a pan with a drizzle of hot oil 7, together with the chili sliced 8. Let them sauté for 5 minutes over low heat, then add the olives 9.
Add the capers as well 10 and the tomatoes 11. Season with salt and pepper 12.
Aromaticize with mint torn by hand 13 and let it infuse for one minute 14, then cover with the lid and cook for about 20 minutes 15.
Meanwhile, cut the tuna fillets into steaks of equal thickness, allowing about 3–4 pieces per person 16. After the sauce has cooked, place the tuna steaks in the pan 17. Cover again with the lid 18 and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, remove the lid and flavor with grated lemon zest 19. Plate immediately, spooning the sauce over the fish 20 and finishing with more lemon zest and mint to taste. Your Sicilian-style tuna is ready to be served 21!