An unusual recipe for watermelon «tuna» is gaining popularity on social media. Even though the idea seems absurd at first glance, social media users claim that after marinating and baking, the fruit actually changes texture and becomes remarkably similar to raw fish.
For those who love the taste of tuna but aren’t willing to pay extra for fresh fish, San Francisco-based food blogger Michael Ligier has offered an unexpected solution. He created an alternative «tuna» using ordinary watermelon flesh. The trend was quickly picked up by food bloggers around the world, filling social media feeds with videos of the fruit being baked.
@ligier watermelon tuna … highhhh 🍉 #veganrecipes #tuna #tartare #watermelonsugar #learntocook #homechef #fyp #foryou ♬ Lofi – Domknowz
The secret is letting the watermelon sit in a marinade of soy sauce, sesame oil, nori seaweed and spices, followed by an hour of baking at 180 degrees Celsius. After this process, the watermelon completely changes texture. It loses its crunch, becoming dense, soft and fibrous, and its sweetness almost disappears, giving way to the salty, spicy flavor of the marinade. That’s why many compare it to sushi-grade tuna.
To prepare the fake tuna, cut the flesh of half a medium watermelon into strips about 5 by 2.5 centimeters. In a separate bowl, mix two tablespoons of soy sauce, one tablespoon of sesame oil, two tablespoons of refined vegetable oil and a teaspoon of chili flakes. To enhance the «seafood» flavor, cooks often add a shredded sheet of nori seaweed to the marinade. The watermelon and sauce are sealed in a zip-top bag and refrigerated for six hours.
After marinating, the pieces are placed on a parchment-lined baking sheet and baked for one hour at 180 degrees Celsius. The cooled slices are lightly dipped in the remaining marinade and rolled in a mixture of white and black sesame seeds.
Opinions on social media are divided. Some swear by this unusual appetizer, which truly resembles fish and is perfect for poke bowls, rolls, salads and bowls. Others admit they’re not even ready to try the combination.
«I didn’t like watermelon before this video, but now I can’t stand it.»
«I came to say thanks for the recipe. I ended up using soy sauce. The slices less than a half-inch thick turned out tastier than the thicker ones. The sauce ingredients were enough for 20 watermelon slices.»
«Interesting combination,» users wrote.
Although many call this dish «watermelon tuna,» it doesn’t actually replicate the fish’s flavor exactly. The main goal of the recipe is to alter the texture of the watermelon as much as possible and enhance its flavor with soy sauce and nori. That’s why the recipe is especially popular among vegans and those who enjoy experimenting in the kitchen.
