Description
Turn your carefully selected tuna belly into a culinary masterpiece with this delectable recipe that highlights this premium cut’s natural richness.
This grilled tuna belly recipe features a sweet and savory marinade that perfectly complements the fish’s natural flavors. The cooking process will give you a perfectly charred exterior while keeping the belly’s signature melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds tuna belly, cut into serving portions.
- 1 cup soy sauce.
- 2 tablespoons sugar.
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper.
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil.
- Juice of 1 lemon.
- 2 cloves garlic, minced.
- ½ teaspoon salt.
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: Mix soy sauce, sugar, black pepper, sesame oil, lemon juice, and minced garlic in a bowl. Stir until the sugar completely dissolves.
- Marinate: Put tuna belly in a zip-lock bag with the marinade mixture. Let it sit in the refrigerator for 3 hours and turn occasionally to distribute evenly.
- Prepare for Cooking: Take the tuna out from marinade and save the liquid. Boil the reserved marinade for 4-5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Grilling Process: Heat the grill and place the tuna on it. Cook each side for 3-5 minutes, basting regularly with the reduced marinade.
- Final Touches: Continue grilling until the fish flakes easily with a fork and develops slight caramelization on top.
Notes
- Your safety comes first – always boil the marinade before using it as a basting sauce.
- The marinade shouldn’t exceed 8 hours since acidic ingredients can affect the fish’s texture.
- Cook the belly just enough to let the fat break down properly.
- You can use olive oil instead of sesame oil, but you’ll miss out on the nutty flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Marinating Time: 3 hours
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Seafood
- Method: Grilling