Maguro (What is Maguro Tuna and Maguro Sushi Recipe) (2024)

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Published by Izzy

on Mar 26, 2022

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Maguro is a type of tuna that’s often served in Japanese restaurants. More commonly known as bluefin tuna, it is a fairly lean source of protein. This tuna is used to make tuna rolls and tuna sushi.

In today’s post, we’re sharing some information about maguro tuna, as well as a recipe for delicious maguro sushi.

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What is Maguro?

Considered to be one of the most popular types of tuna in Japan, maguro was previously known as horse mackerel and used for cat food prior to the 1970s.

Today, it is most often used for sushi and represents about 80% of the world’s bluefin tuna. Maguro is a threatened species of fish and is quite expensive. Its belly meat is especially prized for its texture and flavor.

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Bluefin Maguro Sashimi

Akami

Found on the sides of the fish, the meat is particularly lean. It is the most common cut used in tuna rolls and tuna sushi.

Toro

Found in the belly of the fish, the meat is fatty and is prized for its flavor and texture. Toro can be divided into two parts:

  • Chutoro: This part of the meat is found along the side of the belly area between the akami and the otoro. It is not as fatty as the otoro meat.
  • Otoro: Considered to be the fattiest part of the tuna, it is located on the underside of the fish. The meat is very fatty and flavorful. It is also extremely expensive.
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Maguro (What is Maguro Tuna and Maguro Sushi Recipe) (5)

What is Maguro Tuna and Maguro Sushi Recipe

By: Izzy

Maguro is a type of tuna that’s often served in Japanese restaurants. More commonly known as bluefin tuna, it is a fairly lean source of protein. This tuna is used to make tuna rolls and tuna sushi.

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr

Total: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Servings: 16

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Ingredients

  • For Sushi Rice
  • 1 cup sushi rice uncooked, it’s best to use Japanese short-grain sushi rice
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoons sushi vinegar or mixing 1 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1/2 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • For Tuna Nigiri
  • 8 oz sashimi-grade tuna
  • 2 teaspoon wasabi optional
  • Optional for Serving:
  • soy sauce
  • wasabi
  • pickled ginger

Instructions

  • Make Sushi Rice: Wash the rice with cold water until the water runs clear. Then add the rice and water to the rice maker. Cook according to the instructions.

  • Once cooked, transfer the hot rice to a large bowl and let it cool down slightly. When it’s still very warm, stir in the sushi vinegar (or the mixture of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt).

  • Prepare the Tuna: Cut against the grain, about 30 to 45 degree angle. Cut your tuna into thin slices. I recommend cutting it to 3-inch long, 1-inch wide, and 1/4-inch thick.

  • Shape the Rice: Take about 3 tablespoons of rice in your right hand. Squeeze it together until it rolls into a firm “log” sized oval shape. Try to make the bottom flat with the rounded top. (Don’t squeeze too tight, and it should still contain a little bit of air in the rice.)

  • Assemble the Nigiri: Place the tuna slice on the root of your fingers. Then take a pea-sized portion of wasabi, and spread it in the middle of the fish.

  • Place the rolled sushi rice onto the tuna, and bend your fingers to cover both the fish and rice together. Press down the rice using the index finger from the other hand.

  • Turn the fish and rice and let the tuna slice sit on top of the rice. Serve tuna nigiri with optional wasabi, soy sauce, along with pickled ginger.

Notes

Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.

Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Izzy

I'm Izzy, a food lover and photographer. Here you’ll find a collection of simple recipes that are perfect for busy people. My blog aims to help you make and enjoy delicious and healthy food at home.

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Maguro (What is Maguro Tuna and Maguro Sushi Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is maguro in sushi? ›

Maguro (mah-goo-roh) or hon-maguro (which means “genuine tuna” or “true tuna” as there are many species of tuna), is the Japanese term for bluefin tuna, perhaps the best known and most commonly eaten fish in all of sushi dining, particularly the famous toro sushi.

What is in a maguro sushi roll? ›

How to Make the Maguro Sushi Recipe
  • 1 Tuna.
  • 1 Rice.
  • 1 Seaweed.
  • 1 Ginger.

What is tuna called sushi? ›

Maguro broadly refers to tuna. If you go to a sushi restaurant and just order maguro, the chef will assume you mean lean tuna (akami) from whatever species of tuna they have on hand.

Is tuna a maguro? ›

Maguro, also known as tuna, is a familiar edible fish that belongs to the mackerel family in its biology classification. Most tuna are massive in size, can swim fast over a wide range of ocean, are higher intermediate predators in the food chain of the sea, and have a streamlined body.

What is tuna called on a sushi menu? ›

I'm getting ahead of myself—first, here is a list of the different types of sushi fish I'll be presenting: Pacific bluefin tuna - akami, chutoro, otoro, negitoro. Atlantic salmon - sāmon and harasu. Salmon roe - ikura.

What does maguro sushi taste like? ›

It is a tasty balance of the lean (akami) and the fatty (toro) meat. Chuturo is taken from parts of the back and abdomen of the maguro, it accounts for about 30% of the total quantity and is therefore priced between akami and otoro. The meat is extremely tender and has a slightly sweet buttery taste.

What is a tuna belly called? ›

Toro refers to the fatty part of the tuna's belly, and the fattiest part is called Otoro, while the most fatty part is called tuna. The next most common part is called Chutoro.

How do you eat maguro sashimi? ›

How to eat Sashimi: 🥢 Most types of sashimi are seasoned with soy sauce by dipping each piece into a small dish of soy sauce before eating it. It is usually the diners' responsibility to fill the small dishes with soy sauce, and it is good manner to pour only as much soy sauce as needed.

What is the best tuna to eat? ›

The FDA recommends consuming fish lower in mercury. For tuna varieties, skipjack earns the Best Choice label from the FDA, while yellowfin and albacore receive the Good Choice label. The FDA suggests avoiding bigeye tuna, which has the highest levels of mercury.

What color is tuna? ›

In its natural state, fresh tuna is dark red, almost maroon, sometimes even chocolatey-looking.

What is the best raw tuna to eat? ›

Bluefins are widely regarded as the Kings of the Tuna family, and rightfully so. Thanks to a number of physical attributes, Bluefins boast a richness of flavor you just won't find in another fish. Bluefin Tuna are almost exclusively found in the form of sashimi.

Can you eat maguro raw? ›

Though usually eaten fresh and uncooked, there are also many ways of cooking tuna such as grilled with salt, broiled in sweet teriyaki sauce, simmered in soups, or cubed and stewed. The area surrounding the tuna's spine and dorsal area has the most consumable meat.

What does maguro taste like? ›

Maguro or tuna was considered as trash fish, not preferred during the Edo period and its fatty part was discarded. A maturing period of 4-10 days is set in order to bring out best in maguro such as a fine sourness and faint sweetness of fat.

What is the difference between maguro and Hamachi? ›

Japanese Amberjack or Yellowtail (Hamachi)

A different species of tuna,hamachi, is a very popular fish used in sushi making. It is lighter in color thanmaguro and considered a white fish with a soft texture and full flavor, often leaving one with citrusy notes.

What is the richest cut of sushi tuna called? ›

Otoro is from the belly, or underside, of the fish and has the highest fat content — otoro translates to 'big fat'. Because of this fattiness, the otoro falls apart easily and can quite literally melt in your mouth. It is the most sought after part of the fish because of its flavour and texture.

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