The first time I had this was probably 50 years ago. Oh my goodness, do I feel old writing that! The recipe, if you can call it that since it’s nothing more than a couple of ingredients, is from my friend Linda’s mother, Van (Linda is a childhood friend that I still see once in awhile, and she still lives just a few doors from the house I grew up in, in San Diego). Anyway, Linda’s parents are both deceased now. But her dad loved to fish, and he caught hundreds and hundreds of pounds of tuna each year. The family would have a tuna-canning-fest. I can still remember being given a couple of the short, fat Mason jars packed full of tuna, garlic and onion, as I recall. I don’t believe it was smoked tuna, but just “canned” tuna. Van had a big canning kettle and I vaguely remember the family all complaining about the big job it was, to can dozens and dozens of jars of tuna.
Tuna isn’t something we eat with as much regularity anymore, what with the amount of mercury in it. On Wikipedia I found this statement about tuna: Due to their high position in the food chain and the subsequent accumulation of heavy metals from their diet, mercury levels can be high in larger species such as bluefin and albacore. Also, according to Wikipedia, a can of StarKist brand tuna contains about 10 TIMES the amount of mercury as other similarly labeled grocery-shelf tuna.
I’ve told you, my readers, about the albacore tuna that I do buy online, though. It’s by Carvalho Fisheries. They catch young tuna, and as such, younger tuna haven’t consumed enough metals in the sea to have as much measurable mercury in their flesh. I’ve been buying Carvalho’s tuna for about 8-9 years now. Each time, I buy a 12-pack of regular low mercury albacore in its own juices. Last time I ordered I also got some salmon and some smoked albacore. That’s when I started using the smoked version in this simple-easy appetizer.
First, though, you cut up half of a red onion, cut that half in half, peel it and remove the ends, then thinly slice the onion. As thin as possible. Into a bowl those little slivers go. I add water to cover, then add a jolt (probably about 2 T. ) of vinegar or red wine vinegar and let that sit for 30-60 minutes. What that does is remove the harshness of raw onion – soaked onions make that raw onion taste mild and sweet. If you’d like it actually “sweet,” just add a little dash of sugar to the brine and you’ll have sweet onions. Phillis Carey shared that tip with one of the many cooking classes I’ve been to, and it’s a great little trick.
There you can see one of the crackers (I prefer crackers to bread, but it’s completely up to you) with a little bit of the big flakes or shards of tuna with the onions on top. Makes two delicious bites per Vinta cracker. Nothing else is needed – no sauce – no mayo – no nothin’. It’s just good the way it is.
When I make this I start an hour ahead, soak the red onions and leave them out on the kitchen counter. Then I open the can of tuna, put it on some kind of tray or plate, the onions in a small bowl and surround it with crackers. How simple is that?
There’s a photo from Carvalho’s website of the Coastal Albacore. It’s a traditional tuna-sized can. I still have several in my pantry at the moment, just waiting for my next tuna recipe. My favorite is the Sicilian Tuna Salad. Pasta, herbs, a delicious lemony dressing, and the tuna.
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Smoked Albacore and Red Onion Appetizer
Recipe By: From my friend Linda’s mother Van
Serving Size: 10 (maybe less if they’re really hungry, but a little bit goes a long ways)
Serving Ideas: If you have some kind of sauce (I’d suggest a mayo based) on hand, you could dab a little bit of it on the cracker, or on the tuna and stick the onions to it. The appetizer doesn’t really need anything else, but this is just an idea. I happen to have some Mississippi Comeback Sauce in the refrigerator at the moment, and it would probably be delicious with it.
Notes: If you can’t find smoked albacore (available at upscale fish markets, usually) you can use a high quality ordinary canned albacore. The point is to use albacore because it will break off into nice bite-sized flakes. Do not under any circumstances use the tiny-flaked canned tuna from the groery store shelf. I buy smoked and regular albacore from Carvalho Fisheries (search online) because they harvest young tuna which contain much less mercury.
6 ounces smoked albacore — or just good quality tuna, drained
1/2 whole red onion
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
water
1. An hour before serving prepare the onion. Remove end and skin, cut onion half in half and cut very thin slices.
2. Place onion slivers in a bowl. Add water just to cover, then add the red wine vinegar. Stir and set aside for one hour.
3. Drain onion and blot on paper towels, then place in a small serving bowl.
4. On a platter place the onion bowl, the tuna with a small fork so people can separate flakes of it. Add crackers of your choice.
Per Serving (doesn’t include the crackers): 27 Calories; trace Fat (15.0% calories from fat); 5g Protein; 1g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 7mg Cholesterol; 67mg Sodium.
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