Tuna Meatballs | Fish Recipes | Jamie Oliver Recipes (2024)

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The best tuna meatballs (Le migliori polpette di tonno)

In a delicious tomato sauce

Tuna Meatballs | Fish Recipes | Jamie Oliver Recipes (2)

In a delicious tomato sauce

“Made with fresh fish, herbs and spices, these tuna meatballs are just as tasty as the meaty version ”

Serves 4

Cooks In55 minutes plus resting time

DifficultySuper easy

Jamie's ItalyItalianTunaMeatballMains

Nutrition per serving
  • Calories 562 28%

  • Fat 34.1g 49%

  • Saturates 5.5g 28%

  • Sugars 8.5g 9%

  • Salt 1.88g 31%

  • Protein 37.1g 74%

  • Carbs 29.1g 11%

  • Fibre 3g -

Of an adult's reference intake

recipe adapted from

Jamie's Italy

By Jamie Oliver

Tap For Method

Ingredients

  • Metric
  • Netherlands
  • Germany

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  • for the tomato sauce
  • olive oil
  • 1 small onion , peeled and finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic , peeled and finely sliced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 x 400 g good-quality tinned plum tomatoes
  • sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • red wine vinegar
  • 1 small bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley , leaves picked and roughly chopped
  • for the meatballs
  • 400 g tuna , from sustainable sources, ask your fishmonger
  • olive oil
  • 55 g pine nuts
  • 1 level teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 handful fresh flat-leaf parsley , chopped
  • 100 g stale breadcrumbs
  • 25 g Parmesan , freshly grated
  • 2 free-range eggs
  • 1 lemon

Tap For Method

The cost per serving below is generated by Whisk.com and is based on costs in individual supermarkets. For more information about how we calculate costs per serving read our FAQS

recipe adapted from

Jamie's Italy

By Jamie Oliver

Tap For Ingredients

Method

  1. Just about everyone I know is a fan of meatballs, so I thought I’d give you a recipe for these as they are something a little different. I’ve seen them made in Sicily in the same way, using a mixture of swordfish and tuna – not jarred or tinned tuna though. These have to be made with fresh fish and they are subtly seasoned with Sicilian herbs and spices – this recipe is just as good as the meat versions!
  2. First make your sauce. Place a large pan on the heat, add a good lug of olive oil, your onion and garlic and fry slowly for 10 or so minutes until soft. Add your oregano, the tomatoes, salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Simmer for 15 minutes or so, then liquidize until smooth. Taste – it might need a tiny swig of red wine vinegar or some extra seasoning.
  3. While the tomatoes are simmering, chop the tuna up into 2.5cm/1 inch dice. Pour a good couple of tablespoons of olive oil into a large frying pan and place on the heat. Add the tuna to the pan with the pine nuts and cinnamon. Season lightly with salt and pepper and fry for a minute or so to cook the tuna on all sides and toast the pine nuts. Remove from the heat and put the mixture into a bowl. Allow to cool down for 5 minutes, then add the oregano, parsley, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, eggs, and zest and juice of the lemon to the bowl. Using your hands, really scrunch and mix the flavours into the tuna, then divide the mixture and squeeze it into meatballs slightly smaller than a golf ball. If you dip one of your hands in water while shaping you’ll get a nice smooth surface on the meatball. If the mixture’s very sticky, add a few more breadcrumbs. Keep the meatballs around the same size and place them on an oiled tray, then put them in the fridge for an hour to let them rest.
  4. Put the pan you fried the tuna in back on the heat with a little olive oil. Add your meatballs to the pan and jiggle them about until they’re golden brown all over. You might want to do them in batches – when they’re done, add them to the tomato sauce, divide between your plates, sprinkle with chopped parsley and drizzle with good olive oil. Great served with spaghetti or linguine.

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recipe adapted from

Jamie's Italy

By Jamie Oliver

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© 2024 Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited

© 2024 Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited

Tuna Meatballs | Fish Recipes | Jamie Oliver Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can you cook canned tuna? ›

Can you cook canned tuna? Canned tuna is actually already cooked before it's canned, so technically, you can eat it straight from the can if you want. However, you can add canned tuna to a dish that you're cooking to add some healthy protein. For instance, you can add canned tuna to a pot of mac and cheese.

Do you rinse canned tuna before cooking? ›

For recipes that thrive on robust flavors, leaving the tuna unrinsed is the way to go. This is particularly crucial for oil-packed tuna, which is famous for its richness and succulence.

What can I mix with canned tuna? ›

Dress up your canned tuna in these healthy recipes.
  • 01 of 05. Tuna Cakes: Add Eggs, Herbs & Breadcrumbs. ...
  • 02 of 05. One-Pot Pasta: Add Pasta, Olives & Lemon. ...
  • 03 of 05. Tuna Melt: Add Greek Yogurt, Veggies, Cheese & Bread. ...
  • 04 of 05. Niçoise Salad: Add Potatoes, Hard-Boiled Eggs, Green Beans & Dressing. ...
  • 05 of 05.
Aug 19, 2022

Which spice goes well with tuna? ›

If you don't have one of these on hand, just pick a savory spice you enjoy and try adding it to the tuna mixture; anything from garlic powder to coriander, cumin, or sumac will amp up your tuna melt. I wouldn't be surprised if you also find a new go-to spice that you sprinkle with salt on your eggs every morning.

What seasoning tastes good on tuna? ›

Best Organic Individual Spices for Making Tuna

Use smoked paprika for a more grilled flavor. Organic Black Malabar Pepper: A classic pairing for a simple seared tuna steak. Organic coriander Powder: Offers a lemony, floral note, excellent for an exotic twist.

Is cooked canned tuna healthy? ›

Absolutely! Tuna is a low-fat protein choice with about 2 grams of fat per 2.5-ounce portion of solid white albacore tuna. More importantly, the majority of fat in tuna is healthy unsaturated fats, like omega 3 fatty acids. Some fat is important to help absorb vitamins and minerals from the meal you're eating.

Why doesn't canned tuna need to be cooked? ›

Once the cans are filled and sealed, they also undergo processing, which the USDA explains is the method by which commercially canned goods are heated to 250 degrees Fahrenheit to destroy harmful microorganisms. From there, the vacuum seal prevents new bacteria from forming.

Does cooking canned tuna remove mercury? ›

Can cooking fish get rid of the mercury? No, there is no method of cooking or cleaning fish that will reduce the amount of mercury. Pregnant women should enjoy cooked fish and not eat raw fish as raw fish may have bacteria that can harm your baby.

Should I boil tuna can for botulism? ›

The 10-minute boil is a safety precaution to inactivate any toxin present that might cause botulism. IF everything was done right in the pressure canning of meats and vegetables, then there should not be a problem.

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