Canned Tuna Fried Rice Recipe (2024)

Do you need a quick, but satisfying lunch? Try this tuna fried rice the next time you have some leftover rice languishing in the refrigerator.

SKIP TO RECIPE

As a Filipina, I eat a lot of rice.

Oftentimes I cook a pot of rice to last us a few days.

If it’s white rice, Tobi will not eat it as he gets hungry after a couple of hours. He needs heartier rice, like brown, red or black, which I also cook often.

But sometimes I really, really need white rice.

After all, white rice is what I grew up on.

So when I make white rice, Becca and I would often have it for lunch when Tobi is at work (as with a lot of other Filipino meals, like tapa, tocino, sisig, sinigang, tinola and the like, that he doesn’t enjoy as much as we do.)

More often than not, I make tuna fried rice. An added bonus is the vegetables in it, so Becca gets something healthy-ish. She loves peas, corn,and carrots, so I often add those in. But you may add other vegetables you want as well, like bell pepper and spring onions.

And don’t limit yourself to white rice; I have made this with red and black rice as well as quinoa.

I always have canned tuna on hand, and often make tuna sisig and tuna lumpia as well.

Here’s how I make my tuna fried rice:

I even made you a video, showing how easy it is to make!

If watching videos is not your thing, continue reading for the process.

Moisten the day-old rice with a tablespoon or two of water. Separate the grains with your fingers.

Canned Tuna Fried Rice Recipe (1)

In a large frying pan, heat around 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is soft and the garlic is light brown.

Add the carrots and cook until the carrots are cooked to your liking. If I have bell pepper, I also add some diced bell pepper. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Add the tuna and fry for a couple of minutes. Add more oil if needed. Season with a squeeze of lemon, if desired, and some salt and pepper.

Canned Tuna Fried Rice Recipe (2)

Add the rice, peas, and corn. Mix well. Season with 2 tablespoons of toyomansi, (or 2 teaspoons lemon juice and 4 teaspoons soy sauce), salt and pepper. Mix well. Fry for at least 5 minutes, to crisp up the rice.

(For the non-Filipinos, toyomansi is a bottled sauce made up of soy sauce and calamansi juice. Toyo is Filipino for soy sauce. You may find toyomansi at an Asian store stocking up on Filipino items.)

Canned Tuna Fried Rice Recipe (3)

Sometimes, I add an egg as well. To do this, scramble an egg in a small bowl. Season with a bit of salt.

Make a well in the center of the rice and add a splash of oil. Pour in the egg and cook until done to your liking. Mix well with the fried rice.

Top with green onions, if using.

Serve and enjoy.

Pin the recipe for Tuna Fried Rice here:

Canned Tuna Fried Rice Recipe (4)

Other recipes you might enjoy:

Filipino-style Burger Steak

Chorizo Pudpud

Pork Adobo and Pork Sisig

Tweety

Yields 2

Serves 2

Tuna Fried Rice

A quick and satisfying lunch made with canned tuna, leftover rice and vegetables of choice.

10 minPrep Time

10 minCook Time

20 minTotal Time

Canned Tuna Fried Rice Recipe (6)

Canned Tuna Fried Rice Recipe (7)Save Recipe

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cups day old rice
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 can (180-200 grams) tuna, in brine, drained
  • ¼ cup frozen peas
  • ¼ cup canned corn
  • 1 carrot, diced (around 1/3 cup)
  • Cooking oil of choice (I used coconut oil)
  • Seasonings:
  • Toyomansi, or lemon juice and soy sauce
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Optional: sliced green onion for topping

Directions

  1. Moisten the day-old rice with a tablespoon or two of water. Separate the grains with your fingers.
  2. In a large frying pan, heat around 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is soft and the garlic is light brown.
  3. Add the carrots and cook until the carrots are cooked to your liking. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
  4. Add the tuna and fry for a couple of minutes. Add more oil if needed. Season with a squeeze of lemon, if desired, and some salt and pepper.
  5. Add the rice, peas and corn. Mix well. Season with 2 tablespoons of toyomansi, (2 teaspoons lemon juice and 4 teaspoons soy sauce), salt and pepper. Mix well. Fry for at least 5 minutes, to crisp up the rice.
  6. Top with green onions, if using.
  7. Serve.

7.8.1.2

46

ayellowbowl.com

Canned Tuna Fried Rice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is tuna good to eat with rice? ›

These spicy, lemony onigiri are a total steal. To food editor Shilpa Uskokovic, when it comes to home cooking, cheap is the greatest compliment. Each month, in What a Steal, she's sharing a highly craveable recipe—and showing us how to save some $$$ along the way.

Can you cook canned tuna? ›

Can you cook canned tuna? Canned tuna is actually already cooked before it's canned, so technically, you can eat it straight from the can if you want. However, you can add canned tuna to a dish that you're cooking to add some healthy protein. For instance, you can add canned tuna to a pot of mac and cheese.

How to jazz up canned tuna? ›

Feel free to use a spicy mayonnaise for an extra kick. To offset any heat, swap out soy sauce for ponzu or add lime juice to allow the citrus to cut through. If you want to get real fancy, top the tuna with specialty items like chili oil, kimchi, or melted cheese. Tuna tastes even better when it's sweeter.

Should I rinse canned tuna before using? ›

In dishes where you aim for a fresh, clean taste, like in salads or light pasta dishes, rinsing tuna can help achieve the desired flaky texture and light flavor profile. It removes the oil or brine that might otherwise weigh down the dish or clash with delicate dressings and ingredients.

Why do people eat tuna and rice? ›

First of all, tuna is high in protein, it's got the healthy fats in Omega-3s and it's great for heart vessels. It's also super high in potassium, which is great for regulating our blood pressure and then, of course, it keeps you fuller for longer because it's primarily protein.”

What is a healthy way to eat canned tuna? ›

Healthy tuna recipes
  1. Tangy tuna burgers. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  2. Spinach omelette. A star rating of 2.8 out of 5. ...
  3. Tuna & butterbean salad. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. ...
  4. Storecupboard tuna bean salad. ...
  5. Spicy tuna quinoa salad. ...
  6. Tuna Niçoise protein pot. ...
  7. Healthy tuna pasta. ...
  8. Asparagus & tuna salad.

Is canned tuna healthy? ›

Yes, canned tuna is a healthful food rich in protein and contains many vitamins and minerals such as B-Complex vitamins, Vitamins A and D as well as iron, selenium and phosphorus. Tuna also contains healthy omega 3 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA.

What makes fried rice taste so good? ›

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

Why put egg in fried rice? ›

Eggs: Which add great flavor, texture and protein. Carrots, onions, green onions and peas: This is the base mix of veggies that I always use for fried rice, but feel free to add in other stir-fry veggies you love (see ideas below).

Why add mayo to fried rice? ›

To ensure that your rice is nicely fried, mix a bit of mayo in it before frying. The oil in the mayo will coat the rice so that it does not stick together.

Can you eat canned tuna straight from the tin? ›

So yes, our canned tuna is cooked, which means it's ready to eat straight from the can – great for those of us that just can't wait any longer to start eating it or mixing it into one of our favourite dishes. One of the most delicious convenience foods you'll ever taste. Why is tuna the ideal post workout snack?

Is all canned tuna fully cooked? ›

Tuna can be eaten fresh – either raw or cooked – and canned (which is always pre-cooked).

What seasoning is good for tuna? ›

By Mark Bittman. Here, grilled tuna is smothered with a mixture of flavorful herbs, made more potent by the addition of chopped olives and a little raw garlic. A mix of parsley, basil, chives, chervil and marjoram, for example, would be splendid, as would one of cilantro, mint and basil.

What seasonings taste good on canned tuna? ›

What are some basic seasonings to use for canned tuna? Some basic seasonings to use for canned tuna include salt, black pepper, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, and herbs like dill, parsley, or cilantro.

How to elevate a tuna sandwich? ›

Add crunchy, tangy, pickle-y things to your tuna salad

Onions and celery are popular (and good) additions that add texture, but they're not the only options. Choosing something that adds crunch but also brings a hit of tangy, pickle-y flavor is my favorite way to punch up a tuna melt.

What is the healthiest way to eat canned tuna? ›

Healthy tuna recipes
  1. Tangy tuna burgers. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  2. Spinach omelette. A star rating of 2.8 out of 5. ...
  3. Tuna & butterbean salad. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. ...
  4. Storecupboard tuna bean salad. ...
  5. Spicy tuna quinoa salad. ...
  6. Tuna Niçoise protein pot. ...
  7. Healthy tuna pasta. ...
  8. Asparagus & tuna salad.

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