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Fish, Africa and overseas

Tuna cari with rice

Tuna cari with rice is a Réunion style dish for 4 people, ready in 45 minutes, rated easy, for about €3.80 per person. Tuna steaks simmer gently in a turmeric tomato sauce with garlic and ginger, with a whole chili pepper added for flavor. The key is adding the tuna only once the sauce is fully cooked, so it stays tender.

Tonight it's Réunion style tuna cari, tender steaks in a turmeric tomato sauce, with rice.

Tuna cari with rice
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.80
Calories per person
580 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall

Tuna cari is built on a well reduced tomato sauce, seasoned with turmeric, garlic, and ginger, in which the tuna finishes cooking gently. The result is tender, almost melting fish, coated in a sauce that's fragrant but not overpowering, thanks to the chili pepper left whole instead of crushed. The white rice soaks up the sauce and balances the whole dish.

This is a weeknight dish that's a nice change from pan seared fish, quick to make but with the depth of a slow simmered sauce. It appeals to adults who enjoy a bit of spice, and it also works for kids if you remove the whole chili pepper before serving. Mon Chou suggests it in spring, summer, and fall, when tomatoes are at their best.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Tuna steaks 600 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onions 2
  • Tomatoes 4
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Fresh ginger 20 g
  • Thyme 3 sprigs
  • Chili pepper 1

Pantry

  • Turmericoften in the pantry 1.5 tsp
  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Fish

The step by step recipe

  1. Sauté the sliced onions with the chopped garlic and ginger in the oil, along with the turmeric. 6 min

    The onions should turn translucent, not brown.

  2. Add the diced tomatoes, thyme, and whole chili pepper, then let it cook over low heat until you get a thick sauce. 15 min

    Mash the tomatoes with a fork for a smoother sauce.

  3. Cut the tuna into cubes, season with salt, and place it into the sauce.

    Take the tuna out of the fridge twenty minutes beforehand, it cooks more evenly.

  4. Cover and let it simmer over very low heat until the tuna is just cooked through. 8 min

    The center can stay slightly pink, it will finish cooking in the hot sauce.

  5. Cook the rice in salted water and serve with the cari, removing the whole chili pepper if you want to keep it mild. 11 min

    The whole chili pepper adds flavor without too much heat, don't break it apart in the sauce.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick thick, very fresh tuna steaks, they hold together better during cooking and stay moist.
  • Cook the tomato sauce down well in advance, it needs to be reduced and thickened before you add the fish.
  • Taste the sauce before adding the tuna, that's your moment to adjust salt and heat without risking overcooking the fish.

The variations

  • Swap the tuna for swordfish or fresh mackerel, the sauce works just as well with any firm fleshed fish.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the tuna with chickpeas or grilled eggplant cubes added at the end of cooking.
  • For kids, remove the whole chili pepper from the start and cut the ginger in half, the sauce stays fragrant without the heat.

What to serve it with

  • White or basmati rice
  • Fresh tomato rougail
  • Lemony cucumber salad

Storage

Tuna cari keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container, the fish holds up less well beyond that. Reheat it gently in a pot over very low heat so the tuna doesn't dry out. Freezing isn't recommended, the fish loses texture once thawed.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the tuna cari sauce ahead of time?

Yes, the turmeric tomato sauce can be made the day before and kept in the fridge. Just reheat it and add the raw tuna right before serving, so it stays tender.

What fish can replace tuna in this cari?

Swordfish, mackerel, or even cubed salmon work well, as long as the flesh is firm. Avoid delicate fish that would fall apart in the sauce.

How do you know the tuna is cooked without drying it out?

The center can stay slightly pink when it comes out of the sauce, residual heat finishes the job. Count about 8 minutes over very low heat once the tuna is in the sauce.

Is tuna cari very spicy?

No, the chili pepper stays whole in the sauce and adds flavor without too much heat. You can remove it before serving for a milder dish, especially for kids.

How long does it take to make a Réunion style tuna cari with rice?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a Réunion style tuna cari with rice?

About 580 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Réunion style tuna cari with rice cost?

About €3.80 per serving, or €15.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains fish. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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