Tuna Archives - Sardeenz!

Wild Planet Skipjack Tuna with Dill Pickle

I got this Wild Planet Skipjack Tuna with Dill Pickle at Whole Foods about three months ago. It was on sale and inexpensive enough to spend the just over $2 to see what it was about.

It's a small can, 3 ounces and only about 2-1/2" across. It has the foil top with a pull tab, so no fiddling with a pull ring and sharp edges. I had a big bowl of noodles and chili oil for lunch, but was still craving a little protein, and this seemed like it would fill the bill.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

Looks like some typical canned tuna. The aroma is a little fresher, not as fishy as one would expect as with a supermarket variety canned tuna. I also get a whiff of the pickle, of which only small specks can be seen.

I just ate it right from the can. As I dug down, there were some larger pieces of pickle. The pickle is not too acidic and is just a little sweet, not overshadowing the tuna flavor. But what it does do is offset the inherent tuna "tang".

It's packed in water, but not an excessive amount, so you're basically paying for tuna and pickle, not a bunch of liquid to just drain off. And I didn't feel compelled to drain anything. There's just enough liquid to keep things from feeling dry on the palate.

I could see this being a convenient way to make a quick tuna salad sandwich. Some toast, a little mayo. Maybe a dash of hot sauce. You could make it up right there on the bread.

Main Takeaways

Tasty skipjack tuna
Good balance of pickle and flavor
No-drain contents

Brand: Wild Planet
Description: Skipjack tuna with dill pickle
Species: Katsuwonus pelamis
Country of Origin: Thailand
Source: FAO61, Northwest Pacific
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 3 oz.
Price Range: $2-3

bettergoods Smoked Tuna with Rosemary

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This new bettergoods Smoked Tuna with Rosemary was purchased at Walmart at the same time as the new smoked rainbow trout. That one was very good, and I hoped this one would be as well. Same $4.97 price point and 4.41oz. portion.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

The initial appearance isn't as appealing as the trout, bit I will give it points for being a solid hunk of tuna. The carton calls it "steak cut style", but the grain appears to be running contrary to that of a typical tuna steak. Nonetheless, it is a single, thick piece of tuna (take note, Natural Catch) with nothing hiding underneath.

The aroma is subtly smoky, as is a sip of the olive oil it's packed in. I don't see any rosemary leaves in the tin, and I don't get much of an impression of it from either the aroma or the taste of the oil. I would have expected it to be prominent.

Let's Eat

I was able to lift the "steak" from the tin intact. It is a firm piece of meat. After a nibble of the fish, I decided it would be prudent to pour most of the remaining oil over the fish, in hopes of maximizing any flavor of the seasonings. White pepper, black pepper, garlic, salt and "citric acid anhydrous" round out the ingredient list. Although it doesn't taste that salty, sodium is a whopping 920mg.

The meat is quite firm and resists being divided by a piercing fork. It does, however, flake when the fork hits the right places. It also feels a little dry, but I chalk that up to being smoked over actual hardwood, which has the same effect on much fattier salmon. Here, the meat is leaner to begin with, so pouring that packing oil over it was helpful.

Although not overstated, the smoke is the majority of what I'm getting. That and a note of tuna "tang". The tuna is yellowfin, so I'm not sure if that tang isn't really coming from the citric acid powder.

Once again, the carton says "naturally smoked with oakwood, and finished with rosemary for a fresh, herbaceous twist". I perceived a contribution from the trout's juniper berry, but here the rosemary seems lost under the smoke.

Main Takeaways

Nice solid chunk of tuna
Smoke not overpowering but dominates
Rosemary lost in the smoke

I had hoped this one would be as good as the trout, but it wasn't quite. Kudos, though, for it being solid tuna and MSC certified sustainable.

Brand: Walmart / bettergoods
Description: Smoked tuna with rosemary
Species: Yellowfin
Country of Origin: Turkey
Source: FAO51
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.41 oz.
Price Range: $5

Fishwife Albacore Tuna with Soy Ginger

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This Fishwife Albacore Tuna with Soy Ginger is a new item at Whole Foods, so new in fact, the master carton hadn't even been opened to put it out onto the shelf yet. It's been a while since I tried a variety of Fishwife tuna, so this was an exciting opportunity to get back into it. Let's see how it goes.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

I don't know what I was expecting, visually. For all the ingredients listed, it looks pretty much like a can of plain tuna. Some broth, a few droplets of oil. Barely any color to the liquid. There's no real aroma that shouts soy sauce, ginger, mirin, leek or garlic (full ingredient list below). A sip of the broth reveals only the most subtle notes of the seasonings. I note dashi on the list as well, and conclude the sensibility here is intended to be decidedly Japanese.

Let's Eat

A nibble of the fish affirms the seasonings have permeated the meat, and perhaps have either masked or neutralized the inherent tuna "tang". A plus for me. The fish extracts from the can in large chunks, with little debris hiding underneath.

The appearance of the liquid remaining in the tin was slightly sauce-like and hinted that it might contain flavor worth not letting go to waste. I poured it all over the fish and rice.

As I ate, I debated repeatedly whether or not to spice this up with something, anything. Furikake, taberu rayu? But I ultimately decided to let it stand on its own. I didn't find it salty at all, despite the 420mg. sodium.

Main Takeaways

Good quality albacore
Delicate seasoning

Ingredients: Albacore Tuna (Fish), Dashi (Tuna, Water), Gluten-Free Soy Sauce (Soy Beans, Salt, Alcohol Vinegar), Olive Oil, Fresh Ginger, Mirin (Glucose, Dextrose, Alcohol, Rice, Koji), Leek, Fresh Garlic, Potato Starch, Sesame Oil (Sesame), Brown Cane Sugar, White Pepper

This tuna wasn't what I expected. And that's not to say it didn't live up to expectations, only that it was something quite different from what I assumed it would be. Given the ingredient list, I kind of assumed an umami bomb, more akin to the Fishwife Smoked Salmon with Sichuan Chili Crisp. In retrospect, however, I think that type of treatment would be overkill on a mild-flavored fish like tuna.

While I won't be sprinting back to the store for another can, I might be tempted if I see it on sale in the future.

Brand: Fishwife
Description: Albacore Tuna with Soy Ginger
Species: Albacore tuna
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 3.2 oz.
Price Range: $8

Ramón Peña Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil

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This Ramón Peña Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil has been in my stash for a few months now. I've had it since before I tried their sardines in olive oil, and I just felt like some tuna.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.

A nice big chunk of yellowfin. The aroma of the oil is neutral, with no real scent of the fish. A sip of it has just a hint of tuna flavor.

Tasting a bit of it alone, it has a mild flavor one would expect of yellowfin, with only the slightest hint of tuna "tang".

Let's Do Lunch

It was packed in tight, making extracting the fish from the can in one big chunk impossible. I inverted the can over the rice bowl, and used a fork to pry it all out. There wasn't much oil, but what little there was went in as well.

As I tried larger bites of tuna, I kept thinking it seemed a little dry on the palate. The initial taste was straight from the can and had relatively more oil with it. In the bowl, the oil kind of drained off into the rice, leaving the tuna not as coated with it.

I also thought it could have use a touch more salt, listed as a moderate to low 310mg.

Adding Some Seasoning

This next part was a bit premeditated. Rather than my usual basmati, I chose some sticky rice for this tasting. I also brought out some furikake and gohan desuyo, just for a little Japanese flair.

The furikake added the needed saltiness, its nori and sesame adding some beneficial umami. Gohan desuyo is usually more a flavoring for the rice, and in this case I probably should have left it off, as it did nothing for the tuna except to overpower it. I'll know better next time.

Main Takeaways

Nice, mild yellowfin tuna
A tad dry mouth feel
Needed some salt

At $8, I might have expected a little more from this tin, but at the same time I didn't go into it expecting to be blown away, either. This would be a good choice for some kind of salad with some additional olive oil to moisten things up a bit.

Brand: Ramón Peña
Description: Yellowfin tuna in olive oil
Species: Thunnus albacares
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 3.9 oz.
Price Range: $8

Tonnino Yellowfin Tuna Fillets with Oregano

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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