Description
A delightful fusion of pantry staples and traditional Thai flavors, transforming canned tuna into a savory dish bursting with character.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 1/2 inch turmeric root, sliced, or 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 3 tablespoons red curry paste
- 1 teaspoon fermented shrimp paste (gapi)
- 2 cans tuna, no salt added (260g total drained weight)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons neutral oil
- 1 stalk lemongrass, bottom half only, thinly sliced
- 3 to 4 makrut lime leaves, thick stems removed, thinly julienned
- 1 tablespoon palm sugar, finely chopped
- Fish sauce to taste
- Chopped cilantro garnish (optional)
- Red and green chilies for garnish (optional)
- Jasmine rice or congee for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the spice paste: In a mortar, grind the black peppercorns until fine. If using fresh turmeric, add it and grind into a fine paste. Mix in the red curry paste and fermented shrimp paste until blended.
- Heat the oil: In a wok, heat 2-3 tablespoons of neutral oil over medium heat. Add the prepared curry paste and sauté for about 2 minutes until aromatic.
- Add the palm sugar: Stir in the palm sugar until it dissolves. If the mixture is too dry, splash in a little water to loosen it up.
- Incorporate the tuna: Drain the tuna and add it to the wok. Mix thoroughly and sauté until the tuna is dry and crumbly—this shouldn’t take more than 4-5 minutes.
- Introduce fresh herbs: Toss in the sliced lemongrass and julienned lime leaves, along with chilies if desired.
- Final seasoning: Taste and add fish sauce to your liking, adjusting for saltiness and umami.
- Serve: Plate your Hot Thai Tuna on a bed of jasmine rice or congee, garnishing with chopped cilantro and a sprinkle of chilies.
Notes
For a milder flavor, use bell peppers instead of chilies. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-frying
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 45mg