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Fresh Tuna in Cape Town

 

Africa's Greatest Recipes

A Fish to Braai for

 

Seasonal transition in Cape Town is almost as strange to comprehend as wearing face shields with foam and velcro, but nevertheless, it is upon us. We’re moving into (somewhat) warmer temperatures, and for Capetonians, that means lazy afternoon siestas, cocktails poolside, and a lifelong tradition of braaiing flesh on the coals.

Pescaluna is an icon when it comes to catching and delivering fresh fish to your door, straight from their dock in Hout Bay, and have been pioneers of Cape Town’s sustainable, fresh fish industry for over two decades! And boy, do they know a thing or two about our Earth’s sea creatures.

With Tuna Season on our shores, we’re bringing you the tastiest tuna recipes that are to braai for!

Tuna Season in Cape Town

 

Cape Town’s tuna season is divided into two waves; the first between March to July, and we’re surfing the second in October. During the first wave, fresh tuna fish are of average size and weight, but our second wave yields a larger class of fish that are much heavier!

The weather (as per usual) is very unpredictable in Cape Town, but more so during the second wave of the tuna season. Anglers are often plagued by extreme weather conditions that make fishing a tad trickier, like galeforce winds. Cape Town’s winds are no match for Pescaluna’s home delivery service! As soon as the boatload of tuna docks, Pescaluna will package your fresh tuna and deliver it to your door the very next day.

A Tuna(mi) of Facts

Tuna belongs to a subgroup of the mackerel family and is one of the most eaten fish in the world; there are more than 8 species of tuna that vary in colour, taste, size and weight, although catching tuna is a whole different story. It involves incredible strength, great equipment and patience.

Pescaluna delivers fresh tuna to your door, straight from their dock in Hout Bay, so you don’t have to worry about wrestling these enormous creatures for a lekker stukkie steak to braai. We will clean and cut the tuna into convenient (250g - 280g)portions so it can go straight onto your grill.

While you wait on your fresh fish delivery from Pescaluna, feast your eyes on these fresh tuna facts.

1. An ancient practice:
Arabians brought the art of tuna fishing to Europe and the Mediterranean over a thousand years ago.

2. Delicacy: In some of the world’s best delis, one of the most sought-after and mouth-watering options is tuna underbelly. It is best enjoyed in thin slices with cherry tomatoes.

3. Bluefin: The Bluefin tuna gets its name from its dark blue colour, but in some parts of the world it is called the Red Tuna. The reason is its speed. Some cultures consider it to be the leopard of the sea.

4. Yellowfin : The Yellowfin fresh tuna is the most common species in warmer seas. They are significantly smaller in size than their Bluefin companions.

5. Big in Japan: Nigiri is one of the most popular dishes in Japanese cuisine; a thin filet of raw tuna on a bed of rice.

6. Meat: Unlike other fish, the flesh of tuna fish can vary in colour from red to pink.

7. Sustainable: Tuna fishing is regulated all over the world to ensure the species doesn’t go extinct. There are rules around the time of year and quantity.

8. Theatrical: Tuna cutting is widely presented in Japan’s markets and theatres. Chefs wield their sharp blades to slice and de-bone gigantic tuna in front of an audience.

9. Salad: One of the freshest and simplest tuna fish salads, is one made with extra-virgin olive oil, red onions and Italian cannelloni beans.

10. Sea Caviar: Massaging a tuna’s ovular sacks literally helps produce fresh fish eggs, which is a gourmet ingredient used to garnish pasta dishes.

Pescaluna has arrived with fresh tuna fish - delivered straight to your door in Cape Town from our dock in Hout Bay. Along with some tasty recipes for you to try out - now that you know all about tuna.

Fresh Tuna Recipes

 

Tuna boasts a low fat content and has a great amount of potassium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, magnesium and vitamins - perfect for a health and diet-conscious consumer.

Yellowfin Tuna Steaks on the Braai

At Pescaluna, our Yellowfin tuna is sourced from the open waters of the Indian Ocean, and sometimes in the Atlantic due to migration.

Ingredients

● 1 pack of Pescaluna’s Yellowfin Tuna Steaks (2 steaks)
● Salt and pepper
● Japanese 7 spice (cajun spice is a great substitute)

Marinade

● 1⁄3 Cup of teriyaki sauce
● 1⁄3 Cup of soy sauce
● 3 tablespoons of olive oil (or sesame oil)
● 2 tablespoons of lemon juice (or half of a freshly squeezed lemon)

Preparing your fresh tuna dish

1. Sprinkle the tuna steaks with a small dash of the seven spice/cajun spice and a pinch of salt and pepper. (don’t use too much of the seven spice or cajun spice - it packs some heat).

2. Start prepping your delicious marinade by combining the teriyaki, soy sauce, olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl.

3. Place the seasoned tuna steaks into the marinade and cover the bowl with cling wrap and pop it into the fridge. Marinade your fresh tuna for at least half an hour before turning the steaks over and marinading the other side. Leave the tuna steaks to marinate for an hour or two.

4. Now it’s time to remove the steaks from the marinade and braai them over medium-hot coals for about 1-2 minutes on each side (depending on your preference). Do not pour any marinade over the steaks - excess marinade will burn and become bitter.

5. As soon as the steaks have been taken off the grid, serve them immediately.

Tuna steaks can be rare to well done, depending on how you like your fish. The cooking time for this recipe is based on a medium steak, which is a popular choice among its consumers.


 

Tuna Kebabs on the Braai

If you’re looking to introduce your little ones to the joys of tuna, why not try out a simple, yet fun and tasty tuna kebabs on the braai recipe, that’s sure to impress your friends, family and your kids.

Ingredients

● 1kg fresh Yellowfin tuna loin pack from Pescaluna
● Fresh red chilli (optional, to taste)
● Spring onion
● Sesame seeds (white and black mixed together)
● Fresh lime
● Red onion
● Red pepper (or yellow)
● Kebab sticks
● Basmati rice

Marinade

● 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
● 1⁄2 cup of soy sauce
● 1 tablespoon of honey
● Juice of half of a lime
● Chilli to taste (chopped in rings)
● Spring onion (chopped in rings)

Preparing your tuna kebabs

1. Mix the marinade ingredients together in a bowl.

2. Cut the fresh Yellowfin tuna into cubes and add them to your marinade. Let the cubes marinate for no longer than 30 minutes - the longer they marinate, the more tuna favour you lose.

3. Cut the red onion and pepper in similar size chunks.

4. Now it’s time to assemble your kebab - one block of meat, one piece of onion, one piece of pepper, and repeat. It’s a fun activity for your kids to get involved in. Be sure to leave enough space between your ingredients for easy cooking.

5. Sprinkle your kebabs with your sesame seed mixture.

6. Add your marinade to a saucepan, bring it to a boil and set the pan aside.

7. Braai your kebabs on very high heat for about 2-3 minutes a side, depending on your preference. The insides of your kebabs should be pink. While the meat is still sizzling hot, squeeze lime juice over it.

8. Serve the kebabs on a bed of basmati rice and pour the cooked marinade sauce over.

9. Sprinkle your dish with more sesame seeds, chopped chilli, spring onion and enjoy.

Some useful tips to note:

● 
You can also use this marinade to make seared Yellowfin tuna in the pan. Cover your fresh tuna in sesame seeds before you sear it.

● 
Be careful not to overcook your fresh tuna. Tuna can be dry and tasteless if it’s overcooked.

● Use the fresh tuna within 4 days of delivery for best quality.

● 
Do not home freeze tuna steaks - tuna is not a fan of the freezer. It’s quality decreases quickly. If you have no other option but to freeze the tuna, don’t freeze it for longer than 10 days.

We lock in freshness and follow the cold chain! Thanks to our 100% sustainable approach to fishing, we deliver the perfect piece of fresh fish straight to your door in

Cape Town from our dock in Hout Bay, covered with grease paper and brown wrap to ensure we deliver the best quality product in the most sustainable way.

Let Pescaluna take care of all your fresh fish needs, so you can kick off your summer with these incredibly tasty fresh tuna recipes.





Totsiens

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