Herbs and Spices to Season Tuna

Whether a chef, a home cook, or just a food lover, everyone knows how important seasoning and condiments are to get the most out of any meat or seafood. It’s no different when it comes to tuna — one of the most celebrated seafoods. With hundreds of cuisines and countless preparations, it may need some research to know what spices and herbs work well for which tuna dish.

Does the Type of Tuna Matter When Choosing the Spices?

Before getting to the list of spices, it will help to know a bit about the types of tuna you can eat and how they are prepared. For example, skipjack and bonito are typical favorites for canned tuna, mainly because of their fatty, high-flavored flesh. When you get canned tuna from the supermarket, it’s almost always skipjack. Their small size makes them more suitable for canned fish than steaks. Canned tunas make spicy tuna salads, sandwiches, dips, and other similar items.

Then come the bigger varieties like bigeye, bluefin, albacore, and ahi (yellowfin), usually eaten in steaks, sushis, and all the famous preparations that call for fresh tuna.

So, the type and recipe are both important considerations when choosing spices that will go well with tuna.

Best Herbs and Spices to Add to Tuna

Personal preferences play a huge role in the choice of cooking ingredients. Still, certain spices, herbs, and condiments are acknowledged to enhance the taste and flavor of tuna dishes. It can be a starting point for you to start your experiment and come up with unique blends.

Name	Taste & Flavor	Used for	Combination Spices & Condiments
Black Pepper	Peppery, earthy	Grilled steak, salad, sandwich	Lemon pepper, garlic powder
Garlic Powder	Savory, umami	Salad, pasta, casserole	Onion powder, lemon
Onion Powder	Sweet, umami	Salad, casserole, burger	Garlic powder, mustard powder
Lemon Juice	Citrusy, bright	Grilled steak, salad, pasta	Lemon pepper, rosemary
Paprika	Smoky, mild heat	Grilled steak, salad, wrap	Cayenne pepper, lemon pepper
Cayenne Pepper	Spicy, pungent	Spicy tuna salad, steak, tacos	Paprika, chili powder
Sesame Seeds	Nutty, toasted	Sesame-crusted tuna, sushi roll, tuna stir-fry	Soy sauce, ginger
Dill Leaves	Fresh, anise-like	Salad, wrap, dip	Lemon, mustard powder
Thyme	Herbaceous, earthy	Grilled steak, casserole, soup	Rosemary, oregano
Oregano	Robust, peppery	Pasta, pizza, salad	Basil, thyme
Chili Powder	Spicy, smoky	Spicy tuna wrap, tuna chili, tacos	Cumin, cayenne pepper
Lemon Pepper	Citrusy, peppery	Grilled steak, salad, sandwich	Black pepper, lemon
Cumin	Warm, earthy	Curries, tacos, burger	Chili powder, coriander
Coriander	Citrusy, floral	Curries, salad, wrap	Cumin, mustard powder
Mustard Powder	Tangy, pungent	Salad, burger, dip	Onion powder, dill
Basil	Sweet, minty	Pasta, salad, pizza	Oregano, garlic powder
Rosemary	Woody, resinous	Grilled steak, casserole, soup	Thyme, lemon
Fennel Seeds	Anise-like, sweet	Salad, pasta, sandwich	Dill, lemon
Parsley	Fresh, peppery	Salad, pasta, wrap	Lemon, garlic powder
Tarragon	Anise-like, peppery	Salad, wrap, burger	Lemon, cilantro
Cilantro	Fresh, citrusy	Salad, tacos, sushi roll	Tarragon, lemon

Note: While the term 'seasoning' might bring to mind only table spices, in today's culinary world, it encompasses all the spices and condiments that enhance your food — whether added before, during, or after cooking.

Some of the spices, like black pepper, oregano, and lemon juice, also work well as table-seasoning for most tuna dishes.

If you are going for a specific cuisine, then look for spices typical to that cuisine in the list. For example, seasoning with chili pepper flakes, ginger, and cilantro gives it an Asian touch. Similarly, basil, oregano, and cumin can give your tuna a Mediterranean twist.

FAQ

How do you season canned tuna?

Canned tuna is known for its fatty, flaky texture and robust flavor, often accompanied by a distinct ‘fishy’ smell. While it is prepared to heat and serve, many find that adding bold and flavorful seasonings is essential to balance the strong aroma and make it more palatable. Fresh herbs like chopped cilantro and dill, along with spices such as a dash of lemon pepper or cayenne, a sprinkle of garlic powder, and some freshly squeezed lemon juice, can work wonders in transforming the taste. For avid tuna lovers, a simple salt and pepper combination may be enough.