Tuna Carpaccio • Easy Tuna Recipe {Video} • Two Purple Figs

Tuna Carpaccio is one of our favorite tuna recipes, which will soon become yours too! Thinly sliced Saku tuna dressed with a lime caper and olive oil vinaigrette, topped with red onions and served with greens and crunchy baguettes–SO GOOD!

Ok so you know we just LOVE tuna around here! Like you probably made our famous Tuna Tartare or Tuna Steak Recipe or our Tuna Salad Recipe with Olive Oil Dressing. They’re all SO delicious, nutritious and easy to make! So todays tuna carpaccio is another MUST try tuna recipe that’s so simple yet so tasty!

What is Carpaccio?

Carpaccio is an Italian delicacy of a dish where a type of protein/meat is sliced ever so thinly and eaten raw, but drizzled with a luscious sauce. Originally carpaccio started with beef and later extended to include any type of fresh protein.

So this carpaccio tuna is simply high quality, fresh saku tuna that is sliced paper thin and drizzled with a lemony caper vinaigrette. This dish is served mainly as an appetizer or salad.

As you can tell, this is such a simple, straightforward and NO COOK recipe, so it’s literally a breeze to make! 

Ingredients for Tuna Carpaccio

Now let’s get into making this simple and bright appetizer/ lunch dish.

Make Tuna Carpaccio

1. You need to use a super sharp knife for this task, like SUPER sharp because you need really thin slices. Alternatively you can use an electric slicer. OR see the TIPS below to get super thin slices of tuna by using semi frozen fish.
2. Since we’re using Saku Tuna and it comes in a block shape as you can see above, we’ll be cutting slices on the smaller side of the block to create paper thin tuna slices. See below.
3. At this point you’ll continue slicing all the tuna until you’re done. I used two blocks today to serve four people as a lunch portion, and it would serve 6 as an appetizer. Since the tuna is sliced really thin, you’ll be surprised to see that each bock will yield PLENTY of slices!
4. Now you’re ready to arrange the tuna on a plate. get as creative as you’d like! We love arranging the tuna slices layered over each other on two thirds of the plate, leaving the remaining  third for greens.
5. At this point, you’re ready to add greens and crusty baguettes or of course you can leave it as it is.
6. Now let’s dress the tuna carpaccio. Start by sprinkling finely chopped onions, then capers, diced jalapeños (optional), a nice squeeze of lime, plenty of quality olive oil, salt and pepper. And THAT’S IT! As simple as can be! No fancy vinaigrette needed!
7. You can enjoy it as a salad, lunch or appetizer. Moreover you can serve it with crunchy bread like a crostini –which is our favorite! The textures pair so well and the bread adds a nice hearty feel to the light tuna.

Tuna Carpaccio TIPS and FAQ

1. This is a no cook recipe, so using fresh quality tuna is KEY to a good tasting tuna carpaccio! I used Saku block or Tuna Saku. 
2. If you buy your fish frozen, don’t fully defrost it, that way it’s easier to slice.
3. Use a super sharp knife to get those paper thin slices of tuna for carpaccio, if you’re skeptical about the knife, simply slice the tuna while semi frozen. This is the easiest way to get super thin slices.
4. Make sure to add the lime juice on the fish right before serving as it will change the color and texture of the tuna the longer it sits in acid. That’s why we prefer a squeeze of lime over the tuna while adding the remaining ingredients instead of a dressing.
5. If you don’t like the taste of raw fish and still want to enjoy this dish, here’s when you should leave the tuna in lime juice for 30 minutes-1 hour before serving.
6. Use your favorite toppings here: red onion are mild and crunchy so we picked those, capers from Mina are so tangy and fresh. Jalapeños or chillies add that spice kick that we love but they’re completely optional!
7. Salt and pepper are the only seasoning we use in order to let the tuna shine. 
8. Tuna carpaccio is best when prepared the day of and served right away to keep the fresh tasting tuna.
9. To make in advance: Slice the tuna a day in advance and assemble the plate. Add the onions, capers, seasoning, olive oil up to 3 hours in advance, but always squirt the lime juice right before serving. 
10. Leftovers make a great salad the next day, or add them to a Sushi Bowl with lots of Spicy Mayo!

What is Saku Tuna?

This is the highest quality piece of a tuna fillet, similar to fillet mignon or a beef tenderloin. Wild caught ahi saku block of tuna comes from the center tuna loin and it’s a uniformly cut block that has no skin, fat, bones. It’s ideal for sushi, sashimi and dishes with raw tuna like today’s.

Is Tuna Carpaccio raw?

Tuna Carpaccio

Tuna Carpaccio is one of our favorite tuna recipes, which will soon become yours too! Thinly sliced Saku tuna dressed with a lime caper and olive oil vinaigrette, topped with red onions and served with greens and crunchy baguettes–SO GOOD!

Ingredients

• 2
  Ahi Tuna Steaks
  Saku Tuna, partially frozen
• 1/3
  cup
  red onions
  diced
• 1
  jalapeno
  minced (optional)
• 1/2
  cup
  olive oil
  quality olive like such as Mina
• 1
  lime
  cut into wedges
• 1/4
  cup
  capers
  Mina capers are good quality
• 1/4
  teaspoon
  salt and pepper
  or to taste
• 6
  baguettes slices
  toasted, to serve (optional)
• 1
  cup
  Arugula
  or any greens (optional)

Instructions

1. Make sure you buy fresh, quality ahi tuna, Saku tuna is best.

2. Use a very sharp knife and better off, make sure the tuna is partially frozen so you can slice it easily.

3. Slice the tuna into paper thin slices, as thin as you can. start from the smaller side of the block and slice.

4. Once all tuna is sliced start arranging it on a platter. Leave a third of the platter empty so you can add the greens and baguettes.

5. Start adding the toppings over the tuna: onions, jalapeños, capers, olive oil, salt and pepper and lime juice.

6. The tuna carpaccio is ready! serve it as is with a fork, or on crusty bread.

Recipe Notes

Tuna Carpaccio TIPS and FAQ

1. This is a no cook recipe, so using fresh quality tuna is KEY to a good tasting tuna carpaccio! I used Saku block or Tuna Saku. 
2. If you buy your fish frozen, don’t fully defrost it, that way it’s easier to slice.
3. Use a super sharp knife to get those paper thin slices of tuna for carpaccio, if you’re skeptical about the knife, simply slice the tuna while semi frozen. This is the easiest way to get super thin slices.
4. Make sure to add the lime juice on the fish right before serving as it will change the color and texture of the tuna the longer it sits in acid. That’s why we prefer a squeeze of lime over the tuna while adding the remaining ingredients instead of a dressing.
5. If you don’t like the taste of raw fish and still want to enjoy this dish, here’s when you should leave the tuna in lime juice for 30 minutes-1 hour before serving.
6. Use your favorite toppings here: red onion are mild and crunchy so we picked those, capers from Mina are so tangy and fresh. Jalapeños or chillies add that spice kick that we love but they’re completely optional!
7. Salt and pepper are the only seasoning we use in order to let the tuna shine. 
8. Tuna carpaccio is best when prepared the day of and served right away to keep the fresh tasting tuna.
9. To make in advance: Slice the tuna a day in advance and assemble the plate. Add the onions, capers, seasoning, olive oil up to 3 hours in advance, but always squirt the lime juice right before serving. 
10. Leftovers make a great salad the next day, or add them to a Sushi Bowl with lots of Spicy Mayo!

What is Saku Tuna?

This is the highest quality piece of a tuna fillet, similar to fillet mignon or a beef tenderloin. Wild caught ahi saku block of tuna comes from the center tuna loin and it’s a uniformly cut block that has no skin, fat, bones. It’s ideal for sushi, sashimi and dishes with raw tuna like today’s.

Is Tuna Carpaccio raw?

Yes! Fresh quality tuna thinly sliced and dressed with quality olive oil, lime juice, and your favorite flavorings make a light healthy and nutritious raw dish. 

What is the difference between Tuna tartare and Tuna Carpaccio?

Tuna Tartare is a raw tuna dish as well where the tuna is cut into cubes or chunks while Tuna carpaccio is famous for the ever so thin slices of fresh tuna. 

Nutrition Facts

Tuna Carpaccio

Amount Per Serving

Calories 260
Calories from Fat 180

% Daily Value*

Fat 20g31%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Polyunsaturated Fat 4g

Monounsaturated Fat 21g

Cholesterol 32mg11%

Sodium 540mg23%

Potassium 283mg8%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 22g44%

Vitamin A 2036IU41%

Vitamin C 11mg13%

Calcium 29mg3%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.