Name: Sweet and Sour Sicilian Tuna
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1 large onion, cut into chunks; 4 tuna steaks; 1 cup red wine vinegar; 1 cup sugar

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

This recipe was developed at its original yield. Ingredient amounts are automatically adjusted, but cooking times and steps remain unchanged. Note that not all recipes scale perfectly.

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, cut into chunks
4 tuna steaks
1 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup sugar

Directions

Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking the onion, stirring often, until it becomes very tender and dark brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the onion from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.
In the same skillet, place the tuna steaks over medium-high heat. Cook the tuna for about 2 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Once cooked, remove the tuna steaks and transfer them to a serving tray. Keep warm.
In the same skillet, stir together the red wine vinegar and sugar until the sugar dissolves completely. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the liquid slightly thickens.
Return the caramelized onion to the skillet and stir it into the sauce. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes to blend the flavors.
Place the tuna steaks back into the skillet and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes, ensuring the tuna is heated through and coated with the sauce.
Transfer the tuna steaks back to the serving tray. Top with the caramelized onions and the rich sauce. Serve warm and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (1 of 4 servings):

Calories	500
Total Fat	12g (15% Daily Value)
Saturated Fat	2g (9% Daily Value)
Cholesterol	77mg (26% Daily Value)
Sodium	64mg (3% Daily Value)
Total Carbohydrate	58g (21% Daily Value)
Dietary Fiber	1g (2% Daily Value)
Total Sugars	52g
Protein	40g (81% Daily Value)
Vitamin C	4mg (5% Daily Value)
Calcium	37mg (3% Daily Value)
Iron	1mg (8% Daily Value)
Potassium	877mg (19% Daily Value)

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

Comments

LauraS

10/06/2025 01:52:54 PM

This was reallllllllyyyy good! Even just the basic recipe it's good. I threw in a little bit of garlic and some marjoram into the mix and that made it extra flavorful. I would imagine that you add just about any herb and it would not spoil it. Fantastic.

shadowrunbunny

11/15/2020 04:28:40 AM

Wow! WAY too sweet!!! I would suggest starting with the 1 c. of red wine vinegar and adding 1/4 c. of sugar. I seared tuna for 1 minute on each side initially, removed from the pan, added the onions back in with the sauce until it thickened, and then added the tuna back in for 1 minute on one side and 30 seconds on the other. (Tuna was cooked perfectly this way.) Hubby and I had to add hot sauce to the tuna to make it slightly edible. The hot sauce did cut the sweetness some. I will try it again, but cut way back on the sugar and maybe add some hot sauce or wasabi into the sauce. hubby & I only ate about half of our tuna steaks.

Mary

09/09/2020 04:15:19 PM

Too sweet. I would use half the sugar if I made this again

NancyDrew20

12/17/2019 01:07:47 AM

The ingredients don't sound like it would make a great mix. But boy was I wrong! It taste wonderful, I also cut back on the amount of sugar as suggested in other reviews. I also added a splash of balsamic vinegar. A keeper recipe.

JackieL

11/02/2015 03:24:15 PM

This was amazing! I used pomegranate vinegar with the sugar and onions. I also seasoned the tuna with a little Old Bay, dill and lemon pepper seasoning. It was delicious! This is a keeper.

Christine Mc Donald Kochaniec

10/15/2015 01:48:57 PM

I put in 1/2 the sugar it was great!

Greg Gevas

04/25/2013 07:09:22 PM

Since we like our tuna rare, the only thing I would change is to sear the tuna 1 minute per side, and then simmer them for 2 minutes tops at the end.

mrs kosmos

08/12/2009 08:10:17 PM

This is so good. I only had 3/4 cup red wine vinegar on hand, so used 1/4 cup regular white vinegar and it was still great. Next time I will carmelize two onions instead of just one. The onions were the best part and we all were fighting over the onions.

christinadavis

01/17/2010 08:19:00 PM

really great !but the fish better be fresh i mean just caught! this goes good with other fish too! i like more onions too iv even done it with white wine and a little balsamic for color

Chefadafuture

04/03/2009 08:18:55 PM

This was a great meal. I made it with salmon instead, due to the lesser cost of salmon, and I only used 3 steaks. I'll make it again. Next time I will serve this dish with Roquefort Pear Salad.

lmmdammann

04/16/2013 04:41:27 PM

DELICIOUS! I substituted brown sugar for the sugar and added a little salt and pepper! LOVED IT! Will make it again! Oh, and I was cooking for myself so I just made one serving... turned out PERFECT!

Margaret Flores

03/19/2024 01:38:53 AM

So quick and incredibly delicious.

Balsamik

10/12/2020 01:51:41 PM

Excellent! So easy and somehow so complex. Served with smashed new potatoes and green beans.

Jenny Wilson

07/07/2020 05:46:51 PM

Lots of sugar, and frying the fish made it tough.

Ashley Mae Nalepka

04/15/2020 10:40:42 PM

Excellent, so good. The onions with the sauce is so smooth and delicious. Second time making it, second time loving it!

Bernadette

10/15/2019 07:36:35 PM

I will make this again, would be great with a plain rice or simple salad as I served it.

Tondo

01/17/2019 01:38:51 PM

Interesting but too sweet, will cut back on the sugar if ever make again.

Justine

12/06/2016 11:40:12 PM

Followed the recipe, I would make it again in a heartbeat.

lmmdammann

04/16/2013 04:41:27 PM

DELICIOUS! I substituted brown sugar for the sugar and added a little salt and pepper! LOVED IT! Will make it again! Oh, and I was cooking for myself so I just made one serving... turned out PERFECT!

SavvyCat

04/01/2012 04:49:56 PM

This is a delicious dish! Word to the wise--you cannot divide it! I tried and it was an utter failure. Even if you're making one tuna steak, you must follow the full liquid measurement. The first time I got sweet and sour candied onions and tuna. Had to chip it off my plate. LOL! The second... success! The most difficult thing about this recipe is mustering the patience to caramelize the onions. Don't rush! Take your time; do it right. It makes all the difference. That, and withstanding the pungent aroma of the red wine vinegar as you complete the recipe. I paired mine with steamed spinach. I was raised with spinach and vinegar (instead of butter, salt, etc.), so pouring a little sauce over my spinach was all I needed. With that, it is a bit of a pungent overload, so you might want to have a nice, mellow starch in addition. Simple rice pilaf might do the trick. I'm so NOT a cook, but I think I pulled this off with aplomb (the second time). Highly recommended.