Tuna Archives - Sardeenz!

Tonnino Yellowfin Tuna Fillets with Oregano

These Tonnino Yellowfin Tuna Fillets with Oregano in Olive Oil came from Whole Foods while on sale there. Packed in a glass jar, you can largely see what you're getting before you buy it, an anomaly in the world of tinned fish. But how did they taste?

Initial impression upon opening the can jar: 4.9/5.

Some nice elongated, solid tuna fillets, three in total. The immersion in oil masks any real aroma at this point.

Pulling the fillets out, they remain largely intact. Two of the three were used immediately over a Mediterranean pasta salad with rotini, cucumber, roasted red pepper and kalamata olives. While delicious, it didn't really allow for a sense of the tuna on its own merits.

Let's Try it Alone

I plated the remaining fillet and poured an ounce or so of the oregano-infused olive oil over it. There was a bit of tuna debris left in the bottom, so... Waste not, want not. I added it to the top.

It was at this point the aroma of the fresh tuna and herbs started to bloom. Breaking the fillet into smaller bite-size pieces, I endeavored to coat each in the golden green-hued oil. I found the tuna itself felt a little dry on the palate, and the oil really improved the mouthfeel.

I thought the level of oregano was just right, not heavy-handed as with some recent tastings. Even though listed at a moderate 380mg. sodium, it seemed a little lacking in salt. But I opted not to make any alterations, and just enjoyed it as-is.

The olive oil, while not listed as EVOO, is of high quality, and I'll keep that remaining in the jar for some near term future use.

All in all, the $9 regular price is reasonable for wild, pole & line caught yellowfin. Also of note is this glass jar pack is 6.7 oz, a generous portion of same. I see Walmart carries some Tonnino tuna in this format at prices more in line with the Whole Foods sale price.

Main Takeaways

Meaty, substantial tuna fillets
Good seasoning level
Lacked salt, on its own

Brand: Tonnino
Description: Yellowfin tuna fillets with oregano in olive oil
Species: Thunnus albacares
Country of Origin: Costa Rica
Source: FAO?
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 6.7 oz.
Price Range: $9

Trader Joe’s Yellowfin Tuna in EVOO

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I happened to notice this can of Trader Joe's Yellowfin Tuna in EVOO during a recent visit there. Four things caught my eye: yellowfin tuna, solid, EVOO and $2.49. Let's see if it was worth it.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

Nice looking tuna with large solid chunks. The oil is transparent, lacking the color one might expect from extra virgin olive oil. A sip of it is largely neutral, with no real taste of either the oil or the fish packed in it. This SKU was previously designated simply "in olive oil".

A nibble of the tuna is encouraging. A very mild flavor with only a hint of tuna "tang". It seems moist enough, with a firm texture. The chunks are as thick as the can is deep, with very little debris. I thought it could use a touch more salt.

I was able to remove the tuna out over rice in reasonably large intact chunks. The residual oil in the can was only about a tablespoon, so I poured it over the fish. The net weight was 4.5 oz. with the dry weight only a half ounce less.

As I ate several bites, I began to notice a bit of dryness, but in no way a deal-breaker. Yellowfin tuna is my preference, and I thought this one was a good value, overall.

Kicking It Up

I had a new chili crisp I wanted to try, so this seemed like an opportune moment. I had gotten several new ones from the recent Amazon Black Friday sale. Maya Kaimal Chili Crisp is a bit of a different take, featuring Indian spices including mustard seed, curry leaves, turmeric and star anise.

The spice level is low to moderate and the Aleppo and red chili flakes provide a steady undertone of heat. Unlike most chili crisps whose oils are tinged red, this one's is yellow, courtesy of the turmeric, I assume. Lots of sesame seeds and large bits of crispy onion.

Main Takeaways

Solid chunks of tuna with mild flavor
Good net/dry weight ratio
A tad dry, needed salt

I'd have no problem recommending this one, and would buy it again as an all-purpose canned tuna.

Brand: Trader Joe's
Description: Solid Yellowfin Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Species: Thunnus albacares
Country of Origin: American Samoa
Source: FAO81, Southwest Pacific
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.5 oz.
Price Range: $2-3

Maria Organic Tuna Fillets in Light Brine and Thyme-Lemon

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I got these Maria Organic Tuna Fillets in Light Brine and Thyme-Lemon at the same time as some of their spiced sardines, which really liked. I'm afraid this time things would be quite different.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4/5.

This really looks great. Nice pink skipjack tuna. Substantial chunks of meat. I don't see any actual lemon, but at least there's not an overabundance of thyme.

But here's where things went south. The aroma, and subsequently a taste of the canning liquid, a "light brine", were eerily reminiscent of a certain lemon-scented disinfectant spray. And the disappointment didn't end there.

A taste of the fish revealed the brine had successfully infused the meat with the offending flavoring. I guess that's what brines are supposed to do to meat, though. They're intended to preserve moisture, tenderize and flavor the meat soaked in them.

It Gets Worse

I put the fish out over rice, and cautiously poured a modest amount of the lemon-thyme brine over the meat.

Digging in, I found the pieces hard to separate with a fork. Bite after bite, I couldn't help but remark to myself how utterly dry this tuna was. It was as if the brine and the lemon and thyme had done everything exactly the opposite of what they were supposed to do. And altogether it made this quite possibly some of the worst tuna I've ever eaten.

I could have stopped any time, but I continued to hope the $8.49 wouldn't be a total waste. Rather than throw it out, I thought, "what's the worst some chili crisp can do, now?" So I applied a little of a spicier variety I happened to have on hand. Unbelievably, the lemon disinfectant overtone managed to cut through even still.

I really wanted to like this, primarily based on how impressed I was with the sardines I'd had before. But sorry, no. I also have to wonder if things would have been vastly different had this been packed in olive oil, rather than a brine. Unfortunately, Maria Organic doesn't appear to offer such a combination.

If it matters, this can was packed December 2023 (L345/23). The carton says PT N3531, but the can says PT C2171P.

Main Takeaways

Off-putting aroma and flavor
Very dry tuna
Utter disappointment

Brand: 100 Misterios / Maria Organic
Description: Tuna Fillets in Light Brine and Thyme-Lemon
Species: Katsuamo (Katsuwonus) pelamis (Skipjack)
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.5 oz.
Price Range: $8-9

Tonnino Ventresca Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil

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I bought this Tonnino Ventresca Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil on a whim. I know Tonnino sells quality tuna, it's mostly all they do. It was on sale for under $9. As ventresca goes, that's very inexpensive. Some brands are easily twice that. But that's because its the best part of the best tuna. A similar offering from La Narval was pretty good. Let's see how this one stacks up.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

Mostly nice looking slices of tuna belly. I really didn't mind that bit of grey at the bottom, it's just where skin met flesh. The aroma is very subtle, with only the slightest smell of the fish.

A sip of the oil is neutral, with a hint of salt. A taste of just the fish is very mild, melt-in-your-mouth level tuna. I think the fact that ventresca filets (slices?) are cut with the grain of the meat as opposed to across it gives it a different mouth feel from regular tuna. I knew if I kept picking at it, I'd eat it all straight from the can.

Let's Check It Out

The slices stuck together as I lifted them all from the can in mostly one scoop. I started with just the tuna and plain rice. I noted how the salt level was just right. It was noticeable, but very subtle, letting the tuna flavor be the star. If any lower, I thought, it would be salt-free.

Imagine my surprise when I read 600mg. sodium on the carton. It has to be a typo. I looked online, and other packages only list 270mg. for the 4 oz. can. Oddly, the 6.7 oz. jars also say 600mg. Not really sure what's going on there.

After enjoying about half the can plain, I decided to try a little furikake. Chili crisp would have obliterated any taste of the tuna. It just needed something delicate, and not too salty.

Overall, I thought it worked out well. Good tuna plain, with rice, and with a little mild umami embellishment.

I see the price on Amazon has bounced back up a dollar to right around $10. Still worth it, I think. I'll continue to watch it for a random price drop, practically inevitable on Amazon. (In fact, as I'm writing this, it dropped again.)

Main Takeaways

Inexpensive for ventresca
Great mild flavor yellowfin is known for
Great melt-in-your-mouth texture for which ventresca is known

Brand: Tonnino
Description: Yellowfin Tuna Ventresca in Olive Oil
Species: Thunnus albacares
Country of Origin: Costa Rica
Source: FAO?
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4 oz.
Price Range: $10

Olasagasti Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil

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I got this Olasagasti Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil from Amazon, although it can be had directly from International Loft for the same price. A little spendy at $10 a can, but since tuna is the brand's main focus, I hoped it would be worth it. Let's see if it was.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.

Another of those stiff cans that's hard to open without a splat of oil. Very nice looking tuna, though. There's a nice, mild aroma. But it doesn't translate to the oil, which is quite neutral in taste and completely transparent. The olive oil isn't listed as anything special, but one has to assume it's Spanish.

It's mostly a solid chunk of tuna, with very little in the way of loose bits. A nibble or two reveals it has a tender texture and a mild flavor, with only a hint of tuna "tang". Sodium is listed at 470 mg, but it doesn't taste that salty. Regardless, the level is enough to be complementary to the tuna, but subtle enough to not be distracting.

Let's See What We've Got

The can was packed really tightly. Extracting the meat whole from the can was difficult, so it was necessary to pry it out in chunks. Everything was solid, though, no loose bits hiding underneath.

I poured the oil over everything and proceeded to dig in. The meat flaked nicely, and I continued to note how mild and tender it was throughout.

But, not being one to leave well enough alone, I had to make an excuse to try a new chili crisp I had just received.

This one, by Fusion Select, was actually quite a nice enhancement. It wasn't so hot as to overpower the delicate taste of the tuna. It's not as salty as some others, with a relatively modest 280mg. per 2 tablespoon serving. I didn't use that much, and found its added sweetness balanced out the heat and salt, making the entire combination quite delicious.

Main Takeaways

Mild, flavorful tuna
Solid yellowfin
Salt level just right
A little pricey, but premium quality all around

I found it a little odd that the can notes catch area FAO 51, which is Western Indian Ocean. Closer examination of the carton reveals it is only processed in Spain. No matter, still really good tuna.

Brand: Olasagasti
Description: Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil
Species: Thunnus albacares
Country of Origin: Spain (processed)
Source: FAO51, Western Indian Ocean
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 3.95 oz.
Price Range: $10

Starkist Yellowfin Tuna with Roasted Garlic in EVOO

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Yep, you read that right, Starkist. This upgraded tuna packed in EVOO from them has been around a few years. But it only recently came up on my radar. Actually, the fact that the can reads Solid Yellowfin Tuna with Roasted Garlic in EVOO is what got my attention. I wanted to try the plain version, but it was only available in a 4-pack. That would still have been under $8. Instead, I went with this roasted garlic version, just $2.14 per can at Walmart. There was also a lemon dill flavor, but my interest was more in the tuna itself. Let's see if I'll be going back for more.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

Not bad looking tuna. Some intact muscle peeking through there. No overt aroma of tuna or garlic to speak of. A sip of the oil is neutral, and still doesn't reveal anything of the seasoning. Another thing I noticed is there's not much oil. The net weight is 4.5 oz. The listed dry weight is only slightly less at 4 oz. That's noteworthy.

I poked around a bit before de-canning. That in the upper part of the photo, what looks like tuna debris, is actually confined to just the top. Underneath a very thin layer of it is rock-solid tuna.

I used the debris as an initial tasting sample. It has a soft, moist texture. The tuna flavor is mild, but I'm not really getting much in the way of garlic. It says roasted, so the expectation would be of something more mellow than fresh garlic. Instead, my impression is, if anything, of lemon. Unless that's included in "natural flavors", I can't say why I perceive that. Perhaps it's what happens when "dehydrated garlic, roasted garlic" meets a nice, mild tuna with only a hint of that inherent tuna "tang". Regardless, I liked it.

Let's See What We've Got Here

I just realized there's a setting on my camera that lets tuna, when dumped out over rice, look more like it does in reality.

You can see the solid chunks, which are as thick as the can is deep. Whatever garlic is in there isn't perceptible to the naked eye.

I worked my way through half of it as-is, until I was satisfied with my opinion, which was a definite positive.

If you've been following along for any amount of time, you know what I did next.

Yes, and this time it's Momoya Chili Oil with Fried Garlic (Taberu Layu ). It supplies the requisite amount of crunchy garlic, but with a hint of sweetness and a decidedly peanut-y character. The label is entirely in Japanese, but from what I can gather, it does not contain peanuts. Of the dozen or so jars of chili crisp I have, it's a favorite. It's not too salty, so it really complemented the flavor of this tuna.

One thing I noticed that has me puzzled. There's no country of origin listed on the label. Starkist produces flavored tuna in pouches that state it next to the best by date. Also absent is the expected California Prop 65 warning.

Attractively priced in quantity at Amazon.

Main Takeaways

Quality, mild tuna flavor and solid chunks of it
Not sure what to say about the garlic, or the lack of it
Priced right, high QPR

Brand: Starkist
Description: Solid Yellowfin Tuna with Roasted Garlic in Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Species: Thunnus albacares
Country of Origin: NS
Source: FAO NS
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.5 oz.
Price Range: $2

Ortiz White Tuna in Olive Oil

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This Ortiz White Tuna in Olive Oil was on sale at Whole Foods. I had the one in the smaller round can before, and this one in the oval can appears to be the same thing. It looks like Ortiz is phasing out, or at least minimizing the use of the term "Bonito del Norte" on US packaging of their tuna. This oval can used to say it, and the UPC is unchanged. The Whole Foods receipt stills says "Ortiz Bonito Oil Can". I've never seen any oil of any kind in a can shaped like this. Other than most people's unfamiliarity with the term, I'm not sure of the reasons behind removing it.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.

As with the smaller round can, this is nice looking tuna. This one is 20 gm. more in net weight, not even an ounce, and I'm not sure why they sell both. The oval is a more traditional shape for European tuna, though.

A sip of the oil is very neutral. The label doesn't tout it as anything special. The aroma is that of a mild tuna. A small bite reinforces that, with just a bit of tuna "tang", but overall a very mild flavor.

The texture is very soft. Between it and the flavor, I could probably just eat the entire can as-is. But I won't.

Let's Eat

I was able to dump the contents out over rice largely intact. You can see the thickness is pretty much the depth of the can. No laying a pretty tuna steak on top. No pieces parts hiding underneath.

On the other hand, this isn't $3 or $4 a can tuna. Regular price is closer to $8. The sale price put it just above $6, and I think that's a bargain considering it's a pole & line-caught tuna.

Let's Crunch It Up

Always looking for ways to up the tuna game without mayonnaise, I added a couple of toppers.

On the upper half is some garlic furikake, a veritable kitchen sink of flavors including sesame, nori seaweed, crispy rice, barley granola, black pepper, licorice. The ingredient list is mind-boggling. It even has some bonito flakes. If it wasn't quite so salty, I'd snack on it by itself.

On the lower half is Fly By Jing Xtra Crunchy Chili Crisp. It's more nutty and sweet, but with a moderate kick of Sichuan pepper.

I enjoyed what each brought to the party.

Main Takeaways

High quality tuna
Mild flavor
Melt in your mouth texture

Brand: Conservas Ortiz
Description: White (Albacore) Tuna in Olive Oil
Species: Thunnus alalunga
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 3.95 oz.
Price Range: $7-8