It is a well-known fact that tuna was very much enjoyed in ancient Japan. The rich ate sushi from this fish, and the workers harvested canned food. The initial production of canned food from this fish was started in 1903, then they learned to preserve marine animals in oil, brine, and sauce.
Tuna - what kind of fish
This fish has the most important commercial value and in demand it occupies the 2nd place in the world among seafood, after shrimp. As a rule, tuna prefer to stay in groups and usually swim at great depths. They feed on mollusks, small fish and crustaceans. This type of fish can travel very long distances very quickly, thanks to the body structure, which is ideal for swimming and a strong circulatory system.
Species diversity
There are about 50 subspecies of tuna, but the most popular from the fishery side are:
- Common or red, lives in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea. Occasionally found in the waters of Greenland and in the Barents Sea. The largest tuna of this species was caught with a weight of 690 kg and a length of 4.60 m.
- Blue is the largest species. Its length is 4.6 m, weight 680 kg. Its large body in a lateral form has a circular shape. The scales on the sides look like a shell. Blue tuna lives in tropical waters. This species of fish has the largest commercial value in the world.
- Atlantic or blackfin wild tuna is considered the smallest among these fish. Adult specimens reach 1 m, and its maximum weight is up to 20 kg. Compared to other species, these fish live the least, up to 6 years. Atlantic tuna has yellow sides and a fin on the back with a golden hue.
- Longfin (albacore) or another name - white tuna. He has incredibly tender but fatty meat. Its weight reaches 20 kg, lives in tropical latitudes. The meat of this fish is incredibly valuable and expensive.
- Yellowfin (yellowtail) lives in tropical places. Its greatest length is 2.4 m, the largest weight is 200 kg. The rear fins are yellow. In the article you can see what tuna looks like, the photo clearly demonstrates how incredibly colorful and bright this fish is.
They hunted him for a long time, and it was a hunt, not a fishing, because the process of catching this fish is very complicated. The sailors narrate that before everyone made the bait for tuna and kept the secret of its manufacture in great secrecy. If the treat is good, the fish will peck immediately, and from that moment the battle between the fish and the person will begin. As a result, a person wins and tuna appears above the water, shimmering in the sun with gold and silver, like a treasure found in the depths of the sea. Salvador Dali even depicted this complex and exciting process in his picture entitled “Catching Tuna,” he devoted two years of his life to it.
Sea fish
Is tuna a sea fish or a river fish? This is a sea fish from the mackerel family. Its length can reach up to 300 cm, and weight - up to 600 kg. This species of fish is found in the subtropical climate, in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, the Mediterranean, Barents and Azov seas. The meat is saturated with proteins and vitamins. The fish has an elongated body, or in another way - spindle-shaped. The tail on both sides ends with leathery keels. On her back she has a serious crescent fin, and her whole body is covered with scales with a powerful shell.
Features of existence
As we found out, tuna is a sea fish that is used to sticking in large schools and swimming at depths. This type of fish is very fast, can reach speeds of up to 90 km / h. To swim from one hemisphere to another, individuals will need only a few weeks. Only a swordfish can compete with tuna, but it is able to withstand a high tempo only at a short distance. While our fish in their race can overcome more than one thousand kilometers. Body temperature is much higher than water temperature, and this is constant. Scientists suggest that these fish have a heat exchanger that allows you to adjust their body temperature.
Red or not?
Many people wonder if tuna is a red fish or not. The meat has a reddish-pink hue, which means that the fish contains hemoglobin protein, which contains a lot of iron. Many people wonder if tuna is a red fish or not. Our answer is red. The meat itself is refined and tender, rich in vitamins. Boiled, it looks like steamed veal.
In the main species, as a rule, the meat is light or dark and it is generally accepted that parasites do not attack it, like others. Tuna has a very rich taste, great for vegetables, salads, pasta. It makes delicious sauces that are served with side dishes, salads or meat.
Beneficial features
The meat of this fish contains the following trace elements:
- Phosphorus.
- Potassium.
- Magnesium.
- Sodium.
- Calcium.
Dietary and beneficial properties of tuna
100 grams contains 140 kcal. Dutch health workers have shown that a daily intake of 30 grams of red tuna meat greatly reduces the risk of heart disease. Scientists from Austria concluded that meat is able to increase the level of testosterone in the blood, which helps maintain libido.
Healing properties
Tuna has the following properties:
- strengthens the immune system;
- anti-inflammatory;
- reduces the risk of allergies;
- improves eyesight;
- regulates blood sugar;
- reduces pain with arthritis;
- effective in skin and oncological diseases.
Indications for eating tuna
It is undesirable for pregnant and lactating mothers to consume tuna, since mercury can accumulate in fish, and it is also contraindicated in small children.
Useful properties of red fish
When we talk about this fish, we cannot ignore the culinary theme. Fresh tuna is an excellent fish with excellent texture and pleasant taste. Cooks love to cook steaks from it, because the dish does not take much time, and the result, if done correctly, will turn out to be incredible in the end. In addition to excellent taste, meat is more like beef. Its composition includes a whole list of substances useful to the human body.
In the USA, for example, in the menu of scientists, tuna dishes are in the daily diet. Its substances improve the brain's ability to work. Soups, salads, and vegetable dishes are prepared from fish. It can be baked, fried, stewed, steamed, smoked. The Japanese from this fish usually make their popular sushi, as it is not attacked by parasites, and it can even be eaten raw.
What can I cook with fresh tuna
When cooking this fish, it is necessary to take into account a couple of nuances in order to open the taste of the fish. If you decide to fry the tuna on a grill or frying pan, you need to constantly turn it over and remove from heat as soon as it is browned. Otherwise, the meat can become tough and completely tasteless. Well-fried can be considered that piece of tuna, where the middle in color is pink, and its edges are brown.
What to file
The most delicious steaks can be consumed both at lunchtime and in the evening. Cooked fish should be kept under a lid or wrapped in foil so that the meat rests a little and marinated in its juice. Since tuna is a universal fish, it is recommended to serve it as the main dish, with salad, side dish, or additional elements for pasta or another dish. Quite often, this fish is accompanied by a variety of sauces, including garlic aioli, pesto, and fresh food sauces.
Canned tuna
Few people know that canned goods are very popular among the common population. Fish canned in their juice, also olive or sunflower oil.
This is a ready-made snack, it can be seasoned with lemon juice, add olives and herbs. Canned fish is added to vegetable salads, used as a filling for pies.
Unfortunately, fresh tuna is a rare occurrence, therefore, canned food for most consumers is the most acceptable option for eating this unique fish. The good thing is that the canned product practically does not lose the valuable qualities of natural fish, and the mass of tuna recipes in the jar makes it possible to enjoy different dishes.