Japanese Spicy Baked Tuna Recipe

Serves/Makes: 2

Ingredients:

• 10 ounces fresh tuna fillet or canned tuna, drained and flaked
• 4 sheets dried kelp (konbu*), each measuring 6 x 3 inches
• 3 spring onions, finely sliced
• 1 1/2 tablespoons grated young ginger
• 8 small Japanese green peppers, sliced, or 1 green bell pepper, diced
• White Dengaku Miso Sauce (see below)

How to cook Japanese Spicy Baked Tuna:

• Prepare the White Dengaku Miso Sauce, transfer to bowl and set aside to cool.
• Wipe the kelp with a damp cloth. Place it in a shallow tray and pour just enough water to immerse. Remove the kelp when it is soft and pliable. Cut several very narrow strips from the sides of each piece of the kelp to use as strings for tying. Accordion-fold both ends and tie each end with the kelp string so that it resembles a boat.
• Combine the tuna, spring onions, ginger, Miso Sauce and half the chopped peppers, mixing well. Portion the tuna mixture into each kelp boat and top with the remaining green peppers. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), then bake the kelp boats for 15 minutes.
• Serve the Japanese Spicy Baked Tuna hot with rice.

White Dengaku Miso Sauce Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white miso
• 2 tablespoons sake
• 2 tablespoons mirin**
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons water

How to cook White Dengaku Miso Sauce:

• To make the White Dengaku Miso Sauce, place all the ingredients in a saucepan, and simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• When it comes to almost a boil, reduce the heat to very low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring from time to time.

Comments:
*Konbu, a kind of seaweed. It is associated with the word yorokobu, meaning “joy”.
**Mirin is an essential condiment used in Japanese cuisine, with 40%–50% sugar. It is a kind of rice wine similar to sake, but with a lower alcohol content – 14% instead of 20%.

This recipe for Japanese Spicy Baked Tuna serves/makes: 2

Main Ingredient: Tuna
Preparation Method: Baked
Cuisine: Japanese