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–+ servings

Slow-Roasted Tuna with Harissa and Olives Dinner Recipe

This dinner recipe combines tender, slow-roasted albacore tuna with the bold flavors of harissa, olives, and fresh herbs.
The dish achieves a perfect balance between confit and roasted tuna, offering a soft, moist texture with a lightly spicy, complex seasoning that pairs beautifully with raw greens or grains.
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Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine North African
Servings 3

Equipment

  • Oven-safe dish (e.g., 9-inch loaf pan or 8-inch cake pan)
  • Aluminum foil

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ pounds albacore tuna cut into 1×1½-inch-thick chunks
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon harissa or see substitution below
  • 2–3 tablespoons sliced pitted olives black or green, as desired
  • 2 garlic cloves coarsely chopped
  • 1 bay leaf preferably fresh
  • 1 large sprig fresh rosemary or 2–3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • Extra-virgin olive oil as needed
  • Flaky sea salt for serving
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Substitution for Harissa:

  • ¾ teaspoon Aleppo Turkish, or regular red chile flakes
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • Pinch of ground ginger

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven: Set the oven to 350°F.
  • Season the tuna: Sprinkle the tuna chunks with salt and pepper, then rub the harissa over the tuna evenly. Place the tuna in an oven-safe dish snugly, such as a 9-inch loaf pan or 8-inch cake pan. Use a larger dish if needed, but this will require more oil to cover the tuna.
  • Add aromatics and oil: Arrange the olives, garlic, bay leaf, and rosemary (or thyme) around the tuna. Pour in enough olive oil to just cover the fish.
  • Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 12–20 minutes. Check for doneness – the fish should be slightly underdone to your taste. Remove it from the oven early if it’s a bit too pink, as it will continue cooking in the hot oil. Avoid overcooking to prevent a chalky texture.
  • Rest and serve: Let the fish rest in the pan for at least 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, garnished with flaky sea salt and accompanied by lemon wedges.

Notes

  • This dish pairs well with baby kale, spinach, or quinoa for a lighter dinner.
  • Leftovers make excellent tuna salad sandwiches.
  • Be mindful of the dish material when baking; metal pans cook more quickly than glass or ceramic.
Keyword dinner recipe, healthy tuna dinner idea, Mediterranean seafood recipe, roasted tuna recipe, tuna with harissa
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