Easy Fried Tuna Recipe (Garba from Cote D'Ivoire) (2024)

It was hard to find things to cook from the Ivory Coast, or Cote d’Ivoire. With quite a bit of research, I finally found this recipe for Garba or Fried Tuna Steak. This Easy Tuna Steak Recipe will literally take you less than ten minutes and 3 ingredients to make.

“Hello Reader! I try my hardest to research recipes as best as I can before posting to ensure I am representing each culture correctly. If this recipe is from your country and I have made a mistake or you have suggestions for how to make it more authentic, I would love to hear! Please leave a comment below letting me know what should be different, and I will rework the recipe. It is always my intention to pay homage and respect to each cultural dish that I cook. Thanks for reading!”

If you’re like me, you’ve probably had tuna a few different ways in your life. You’ve had canned tuna, ahi tuna, sesame crusted tuna…. The usual.

Today, we’re going to take the typical tuna steak and turn it into a delicious and Easy Tuna Steak Recipe.

The inspiration for this recipe came from Cote d’Ivoire. Ivorians eat quite a bit of fish, Garba with Attieke being one of their most common combinations.

Garba refers to this fried tuna dish, and attiéké comes from granulated cassava flour that ferments. Attiéké resembles the texture of couscous.

What Do I Need to Make this Easy Tuna Steak Recipe?

Tuna Steaks
All purpose Flour
Salt and pepper
Sunflower oil for frying

How to Make Garba

Heat about ½ inch of oil in a large pan over medium heat.

To know if the oil is ready to fry, place a wooden chopstick in the oil, point down, perpendicular to the pan. Allow the tip of the chopstick to touch the bottom of the pan. If the oil bubbles around the chopstick within three seconds, it’s hot enough to start frying!

Salt and pepper your tuna steak. Place it in the flour and then flip, making sure that the flour covers both sides.

Add the tuna steak into the oil. It should begin sizzling immediately. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side depending on the desired level of doneness, using a tong to flip between sides. The photos on this page show a tuna steak that was fried for 2 minutes on each side.

Remove from oil. Serve with tomatoes and cucumbers. Enjoy!

To What Temperature Do You Cook Tuna Steaks?

According to the USDA, your tuna steak should reach a 140-145 degree internal temperature before eating. However, many chefs recommend eating the tuna steak medium-rare. In this case, your tuna should reach an internal temperature of 125 degrees.

Do Tuna Steaks Need to Be Cooked Through?

No, your tuna steaks do not need to be cooked through. In fact, you most likely don’t want it to be. Tuna steaks cook FAST, and they certainly taste better when a bit pink on the inside.

The longer you cook a tuna steak, the tougher it gets. Additionally, a well-done tuna steak gives an undesirable, chalky taste.

To ensure that your tuna steak comes out the way you’d like, I’d start by cooking it for one minute on each side. If you want your steak more well-done after you’ve done this, feel free to put it back in oil for a little longer.

It’s better to undercook the tuna steak at first and cook it for longer if necessary than it is to overcook it from the start.

Are Tuna Steaks Healthy?

Yes! Tuna is, by far, one of the healthiest foods you can eat. Tuna contains quite a bit of protein and relatively no saturated fat. It also contains Omega-3 fatty acids.

Frying your tuna steak in oil may not be the healthiest option…. But it is certainly delicious!

One note when eating this Easy Tuna Steak Recipe: Like most marine life, tuna steaks contain levels of mercury. The slight levels of mercury will not harm you, but consuming it in abundance might. Everything in moderation!

What Goes Well with Tuna Steak?

This recipe for Garba, specifically, would be delicious if served with attiéké and a tomato/cucumber salad. This is how Ivorians eat the dish, meaning that if you want an authentic experience, these would be the right sides to serve.

If you can’t figure out how to make attiéké, couscous is a delicious alternative!

Did you like this Easy Tuna Steak Recipe from the Ivory Coast? If you make the recipe at home, take a photo and share on your Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #TheForeignFork and tag @TheForeignFork.

And if you liked this recipe, you may also like these ones!:

• Tuna Rice Recipe from Cabo Verde
• Fish Soup from Cambodia
• Boolawnee (Fried Leek Pastries)
• Lobster BLT Scrambled Eggs
• How to Broil Lobster Tails