This is a great way to enhance the flavour of tuna while also extending its shelf life. Preserved this way, the fish is similar to salmon gravlax, but tuna has a denser texture and there is also less sugar in the cure, making it more savoury. The tuna is often used in a Gozitan pie of pumpkin (winter squash), rice and green olives, but it can be used any number of ways – through pasta with fresh tomato, onion and garlic, for example. The preserved lemon added to this dish offsets the umami of the tuna and makes the beans sing.
Turn your recipe chaos into a plan for the week.
Browse 1000+ inspiring creator recipes
Unlimited recipe import from social media, blogs and more
Generate shopping lists and meal plans in seconds with AI
Make the tuna at least 3 days in advance. Put a third of the and in the base of a wide glass jar. Lay the first in the jar, and follow with another third of the salt and sugar. Repeat these layers, then press down gently on the salt-covered fish. Put a lid on the jar and refrigerate for 2 days.
Rinse the and pat it dry. Dice it into 1 cm (1⁄2 in) pieces and place in a clean jar. Cover with the for curing and refrigerate for at least 1 more day.
Remove 2 heaped tablespoons of cured from the jar and place on a chopping board (the remaining tuna can be stored in the refrigerator for another dish). Finely dice the tuna.
Sauté the in the in a frying pan over a medium heat until soft and translucent. Meanwhile, blanch the in salted boiling water for a few minutes until bright green. Drain and add to the frying pan. Add the , and , if using, and gently toss it all together. Taste for seasoning and serve.