Tuna time. I got this Natural Catch Yellowfin Tuna Filets a while back, on sale at Whole Foods. I tried the spicy version before. Being one of my earlier reviews, I didn't go over it with as fine-toothed of a comb as I do these days. But I did like it. Let's see how this one stacks up.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.
Nice appearance. In all their ads, there's always a beauty shot of a solid, marbled chunk of tuna. However, what you're seeing here is a beautiful piece of tuna that's about 5/16" thick, laying on top of a whole lot of small, flaky pieces of tuna. So, really it should say tuna filet with tuna meat.
The aroma is fresh. A sip of the oil has a similarly fresh tuna flavor infused in it. Tasting a bit of the fish alone, it has a slight tuna "tang", but otherwise a premium quality flavor. The salt balance is just right.
Let's Eat
So, as you can see here, what was on top is in the upper half of the photo; what was underneath is in the lower half.
I poured the remaining oil (EVOO) over mostly the loose pieces. In retrospect, I should have poured the oil over the filet. The tuna that was underneath the filet was already well-infused with oil, and the filet could have benefited from some additional moisture.
After giving the plain tuna a full assessment, I decided to embellish it a bit. To that end, I applied some Momofuko Chili Crunch. It's moderately spicy, with a hint of sweetness. Much of the crunch is courtesy of sesame seeds, which add a nutty flavor. One of the other components provided an occasional crispier crunch, but I was hard-pressed to discern which one. I confined this condiment to just the loose tuna portion.
Finally, I applied some garlic furikake to the filet portion. Its complexity of flavor really complimented the tuna.
Looking back, I really should have put the oily chili crunch over the filet instead, and the furikake over the loose tuna.
Main Takeaways
- Generous 4.4 oz. portion
- Good, fresh tuna flavor
- Nice premium quality tuna, even if it is a nice looking filet on top of mostly plain looking tuna
Full Disclosure
Company video advertisements don't necessarily hide the fact that can contents feature a photogenic filet nestled on top of some rather homogenous-looking tuna meat. But the presenter lifts the filet out onto a plate, and then the can and its remaining contents are quickly pushed out of camera frame, never to be seen again. The presenter notes that you may get one of said "thick" filets, or two side-by-side (not two of full size and thickness stacked).
I'd buy this again, regardless of the "creative" packing and description of the contents. And especially if I can catch it on a sale.
Brand: Natural Catch
Description: Yellowfin Tuna in Spicy EVOO
Species: Yellowfin tuna
Country of Origin: Viet Nam
Source: Globally sourced, pole & line caught
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.4 oz.
Price Range: $5-6
