Tonnino Tuna is a superb line of olive oil or spring water-packed tuna that sets a high standard for what's possible when it comes to tinned or jarred tuna fish. You can also see what you're getting because the yellowfin tuna fillets are packed in glass jars and thus clearly visible. The product is produced by Sardimar, SA of Costa Rica, a Central American fish canning company.
There are eight tuna fillet varieties, all but one of which is packed in olive oil:
- In spring water
- In olive oil
- Lemon and pepper in olive oil
- With oregano in olive oil
- With jalapeno in olive oil
- With garlic in olive oil
- Ventresca in olive oil
My favorite is the ventresca, Tonnino's premium product, with thick, pink chunks of yellowfin tuna belly. All of the varieties are mildly salted and flavorful without being too fishy, the criticism most people have of canned tuna.
I will often drain the jar of its olive oil into a dish below so that I can use the oil in the dish I'm making. Otherwise, I just tip the open jar into a fine sieve and take care to not break the large pieces of tuna so to enjoy the luxury of its tender but meaty texture.
