Hate Tuna! Need Help Spicing it up a bit!!!

[bookstar]

Hello,
I hate Tuna with a passion, but I also know it is one of the cheapest and best protein sources out there for a cutting diet.
I am on a weight loss diet right now and I am looking for ways of getting more protein and less carbs.

Anyway, I am wondering if anyone can help me with making Tuna taste better.
I realize we can put in on bread, pasta and rice, but I am wanting to stay away from carbs right now, so i am wondering if anyone know of some good sauces or something to help take the Tuna taste away and make it really good alone?
Also, I am looking for lower fat/ sugar recipes. I figure there are many others out there that also hate tuna and have figured out ways of making it so it actually is tolerable. But like I said, I want to stay away from breads, pastas etc.... with the tuna so I am looking for a sauce or something where I can actually eat it alone or with another protein source.

Thank you again everyone. You all have been great help for me!!!!!

 

[mikesteg]

A couple of threads:

http://www.ironmagazineforums.com/showthread.php?t=20637&highlight=tuna+recipes

This one might be a bit more directly what you're looking for:
http://www.ironmagazineforums.com/showthread.php?t=41847&highlight=tuna+recipes

Just remember: hot sauce is the answer to everything. If you can't taste it, you can't hate the taste!

 

[Emma-Leigh]

Lots of things... And cause I am lazy I'll just quote myself from other posts!

Summary:

Try these -
1. Add black pepper, lemon juice and some low salt tamari (concentrated soy sauce so you do not need much) plus some wasabi for a taste of japan
2. Add some garlic, pepper and mint
3. Add some crushed chilli, ginger and coriander for a thai flavour
4. Add some bulsamic vinegar and pepper
5. Add fat free creamed cottage cheese (just like cream cheese) and chives.
6. Add fat free salsa, some mustard or some other condiment.
7. Buy the flavoured tuna
8. Buy real tuna and cook it yourself with any number of combinations of herbs or spices
9. Buy salmon instead

More detailed, and if you are a little less 'strict' with your diet:

I like the taste of tuna by itself as it is... so I can eat it no problem!

But I also have these little tubs of herbs and spices that are the best things invented!! Some of them are pastes (have to keep them in the fridge) while others are just like normal dried spices so I can mix and match and get creative and add LOTS of combinations. For example -

Japanese tuna: Black pepper, lemon, salt-reduced soy sauce (with or without wasabi)
Thai tuna: Chilli, lemon grass, ginger and coriander leaf
Chinese tuna: Ginger, soy and chilli
Italian tuna: Pepper, basil, garlic, balsamic vinegar
Indian Tuna: Cummin, garam masala, ground coriander seeds

I usually add these to a huge warm bowl of steamed vegetables - things like broccoli, cauliflower, red cabbage, brussel sprouts, baby spinach, zuchini, water chestnuts, chinese vegetables etc. It is especially yummy if I steam them to be infused with the same, or complimentary, flavours.

Or I add them to a big bowl of fresh salad - things like mixed lettuce, fresh baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, shredded beetroot, bean sprouts, cucumber, asparagus, celery and mung beans and then top it all with a good dose of fresh black pepper. You can also add a scoop of cottage cheese or a handful of something like almonds, walnuts or sunflower seeds.

Another suggestion is to make a tuna and egg-white omlette with grilled eggplant, tomatos and mushrooms. You use plain tuna in this. All you do is get a non-stick pan and fry some garlic and onions. Add some tomato and mushroom and when they are golden brown add some lightly beaten egg whites. Let this cook until it is nearly done and then add the tuna (you don't need to cook the tuna, you just need it to be heated up) with some pepper. While you are waiting for the onions to fry and the egg whites to cook, under the broiler/grill of your oven (or, you could even roast it in a hot oven) put some thinly sliced eggplant. Cook this until it is golden and then take it out, let it cool a little and then slice it into straws. Add this to the egg whites when you add the tuna. Then, let it finish cooking, fold it in half and serve! You have a high protien, very delicous tuna meal!

Also tasty for the plain tuna is to take some sprouted or pumpernickel bread and toast it lightly then add tomato, tuna, mushroom, fat free cheese (I like fat free cottage cheese or some low salt, fat free fetta) and some pepper and then put it back under the grill/broiler until the cheese is melted. Some avacado also goes really well on these if you don't mind the little bit of fat.

Another suggestion which is really tasty is to go and get yourself (or, if you can be bothered then make yourself) some no-fat vegetable soups. I like thick and chunky soups like wild-mushroom and chive, garlic roasted vegetables, sweet potato and ginger and lentil and vegetable soups. I then add a can of tuna and heat it all up in the microwave. It makes a really yummy stew type thing. Just be carefull about the soups if you buy them. Make sure they are made with minimal or no added fat/sugar/salt or other nasty things.

Other things you can add -
Mustard
Fat free hommus
Cottage Cheese

 

[Du]

Just dump a bunch of Tobasco in in. That is what I do, and it tastes real good.

 

[bookstar]

Wow guys, thanks for the info. A real help!!! ;-)

 

[nikegurl]

a slice of tomato and 1/2 slice of mozzarella (40 calories, 2.5 grams fat) on top then placed under the broiler for a moment and you have a "tuna melt".

one more thing...what kind of tuna do you buy? the light tuna can be really fishy and smell worse than cat food solid white is a bit more expensive but a LOT more edible. i like geisha (brand) myself and stock up when it's on sale.

 

[Du]

There is also a big difference between chunk tuna and albacore tuna.

 

[nikegurl]

chunk light is nasty. solid white albacore is way way better.

 

[Du]

chunk light is nasty. solid white albacore is way way better.

I hate albacore, but love chunk light. Go figure.

 

[nikegurl]

I hate albacore, but love chunk light. Go figure.

sorry! i shouldn't have spoken like it was a clear cut answer.
let's just say (like you did before i stuck my nose in it) that there's a difference and if you don't like one - you might like the other.

 

[Du]

LOL, no need to apologize.


Youre from Stamford, Ill let it slide.

 

[nikegurl]

 

[lilduba13]

crush up the tuna and throw some franks red hot sauce on it. if thats still too plain for you, then put that on a low card wrap with some fat free cheese and pop it in the mic for a few

 

[Smoo_lord]

I usually chop up a half a raw onion, and maybe a spoon of ultra hot chilli sauce.

After eating this, the fishy taste/smell is flamed. plus i will drink a crapload of water, both during and after consumption.

 

[Pylon]

There are some good foil pack options out there now, with good nutri values and low prep time. Bumblebee just brought out 4 oz albacore fillets in hickory, lemon pepper, and ginger soy flavors. Chop up, mix with 1 c. brown rice and 1/2 bag frozen veg (green beans, spinach, broc, etc.) and you got a stew goin!

 

[onamission]

I mix a half can in my morning eggs, and if Im not feeling tuna in the evening, i just cook up 1 or 2 more eggwhites and mix them with it. I hate eggs, and I hate tuna, but for some reason if you mix the 2 together, they taste ok.

 

[Tha Don]

i'm so glad i LOVE tuna, i can eat it straight out of the can no problem, or tastes awesome in a sandwich or with brown rice/pasta

peace

 

[Cheyenne Press]

Just FYI: the albacore has higher concentrations of mercury in it than does the chunk light.

I prefer albacore, but I opt for chunk light given the above. Oh well, you learn to live with it. I used to try to dress it up. Now I just slam the can back and gulp down a bunch of water.

 

[aggies1ut]

Just dump a bunch of Tobasco in in. That is what I do, and it tastes real good.

Garlic tabasco or Frank's new Chili Lime Red hot sauce.

 

[sara]

Go buy bagged cole slaw salad mix, add the tuna, and some walden's farm calorie free dressing or any low cal dressings

 

[aggies1ut]

Spicy Tuna Salad
1/3 C. mayo
2 T. diced jalapenos OR 2 T. sweet relish
1 T. lemon juice
I can tuna
1/2 C. celery
1/4 C. green onion

Southwest Tuna Salad
1/4 C. mayo
2T. salsa
2 cans tuna
1/2 C. celery

 

[juggernaut]

try low sodium tuna-it doesnt have that salty disgusing taste to it and some mustard with celery seed

 

[juggernaut]

or a tbsp of pancake mix, 1 egg white and throw it in the griddle-tastes like crab cake!

 

[Pylon]

Just FYI: the albacore has higher concentrations of mercury in it than does the chunk light.

I actually eat more albacore just for that reason. I'm hoping to get a second job as a thermometer. BA DUM!

 

[bigss75]

i throw mustard in it and eat it. Its still gross but o well.

 

[cmrapp11]

i add a tbsp of newmans own balsamic vinagarette light dressing. works WONDERS! (sadly i've gone thru the mcdonalds drive thru claiming "you forgot my dressing" without buying the salad. SHHHH! they have the packets that are so handy!)

 

[aggies1ut]

Straight Outta The Can Recipes

Lemon Pepper Tuna: Lemon juice and fresh ground pepper or sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning
Balsamic Tuna: Balsamic vinegar and fresh ground pepper
Mustard Dill Tuna: Dill, 1 tbsp mustard, and chopped celery
Southwest Tuna: 1 tbsp non-fat mayo, ¼ of a Anaheim green chile (chopped), black pepper to taste
Honey Mustard Tuna: 1-2 tbsp Honey Mustard
Tuna Fried Rice Saute cooked brown rice, chopped green or yellow onions, and egg whites in pan sprayed with butter flavor non-stick spray. Mix in tuna and serve.
Tuna Stuffed Tomato Mix 1 tbsp non-fat mayo, pepper and tuna and stuff inside a tomato. Top tomato with a slice of mozzarella cheese and bake in oven until cheese melts.
Old El Paso Tuna: 1 heaping tbsp spoon Salsa or 1 tbsp chopped green chiles.
Tuna Italiano: 1 tbsp Italian dressing or olive oil vinaigrette, fresh ground pepper
Tuna Balsamico 1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar, a few dashes oregano, ground pepper to taste
Tuna Piccata: 1 tsp capers, lemon juice, ½ tsp parsley, fresh ground pepper
All American Tuna: 1 tbsp fat-free mayo, 1 chopped pickle, ½ stalk chopped celery or onion
Texas Tuna: 1 tbsp BBQ sauce
Tuna Melt: 1 tbsp fat-free mayo, 1 oz cheese melted on top
Tuna Parmesan: Mix in1 tbsp ketchup, tomato sauce, or spaghetti sauce. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs or a crushed cracker, top with 1 oz. low-fat mozzarella cheese. Cook in microwave or toaster oven until cheese melts.
No-Time Tuna: 1 Fork, 1 glass of water


Tuna Melt Patties - (Makes 2 patties)


Ingredients:

1 6oz. can tuna, drained
1 egg white, beaten
2 tbsp. oatmeal
2 tbsp. onion, diced (or ¼ tsp onion powder)
¼ tsp garlic powder
salt or salt substitute & pepper to taste
2 tbsp. reduced-fat mozzarella cheese (optional)


Directions:

Mix all ingredients except cheese together in a small bowl. Heat a small non-stick frying pan over medium heat and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Make two small patties by spooning ½ of tuna mixture into each side of the pan and lightly pressing with fork to flatten into a patty. Cook until both sides are brown. Top with 1 tbsp. cheese and serve alone, on top of light bread, or with sides of choice.

Nutritional Information Per Serving:

Calories - 146.5
Carbs - 4.5 g
Protein - 25.5g
Fat - 2g
Fiber - .5g

 

[ph8bringer]

You can buy flavoured tuna. I buy garlic and chilli flavoured.

 

[juggernaut]

You can buy flavoured tuna. I buy garlic and chilli flavoured.

I like that too, but they charge more-I'm on a teacher's salary!

 

[sara]

or a tbsp of pancake mix, 1 egg white and throw it in the griddle-tastes like crab cake!

You can grind some oats in a blender and use it to replace the pancake mix