What to Serve with Blackened Tuna – 27 Tasty Sides

You can serve blackened tuna over a bed of mixed greens with a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette. The acidity from the vinegar cuts through the richness of the fish and makes it a perfect accompaniment.

Blackened tuna is one of those dishes that’s too good to be true. It’s crunchy, savory, spicy, and so full of flavor!

I first learned about this recipe from a friend. I tried it at his house, and I was amazed by how easy it was to make.

That’s why I’ve compiled a list of delicious side dishes for you to try.

They’re perfect for pairing with blackened tuna, and they’ll keep your guests coming back for more.

Here are 27 side dishes that will pair perfectly with blackened tuna.

What to serve with blackened tuna – 27 Tasty Sides

Blackened tuna goes well with many sides, including pasta, salad, or potatoes. If you’re serving it as a main course, you can also opt for a grilled vegetable or a baked potato.

Salad with Vinaigrette Dressing

This salad is one of our favorites, because it is an easy side dish to make ahead of time.

It doesn’t need any pre-cooking, but you can make it a day or so ahead of time.

Just cover and keep in the fridge until needed.

You could call this a “toss together” salad because you just toss the ingredients with a light dressing.

Vinegars, olive oil, lemon and garlic are the only seasoning in this recipe, so feel free to use whatever other herbs and spices that suit your tastes.

If you want a more zesty flavor, add some finely diced red onion to your salad.

Roasted Lemon Potatoes

The best blackened tuna we’ve ever had was served over roasted potatoes. The fish absorbed every bit of the sweet potatoes’ flavor.

We recommend baking the potatoes in the oven for about 40 minutes until tender and golden.

The potatoes should be lightly salted before baking.

Garlic Fries

Here’s another simple dish with a bold flavor. Garlic fries, served with a tartar sauce, are a wonderful side for your blackened tuna.

You could use any vegetable oil in this recipe. Just choose a neutral oil.

Don’t go too heavy on the salt. That’s because the tartar sauce is very salty and will balance the oil-based fries.

Fried Veggies with Teriyaki Sauce

In this recipe, we’ve got some of our favorite veggies. They’re easy to prepare and pair well with the fish.

A light teriyaki sauce is a great pairing for these vegetables as well.

We prefer to serve the dish over steamed rice, but you can use rice or pasta if that’s what you prefer.

Stuffed Peppers

Blackened tuna is a hearty, meaty entrée that pairs well with a number of sides.

A good side dish for this meal is a stuffed pepper because they are one of our favorite side dishes.

You can stuff them with just about anything you like – chicken, beef or even vegetables such as broccoli, zucchini or eggplant.

Baked Sweet Potatoes

If there’s a side dish that is a natural companion to blackened tuna, it’s baked sweet potatoes.

They’re just so hearty and savory, and are the perfect foil for the fish.

Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A and are high in fiber. They also have a nice nutty flavor and a crispy exterior that makes them perfect for scooping up juices and spices.

You can serve them straight up or you could make them into chips.

We love how they pair with salted and roasted corn. It’s like having two flavors in one dish.

It’s no secret that the only reason we’ve included this recipe in this list is because it’s really the only thing we’d eat if we were stranded on a deserted island.

Fried Green Beans

Fried green beans are one of the best accompaniments for blackened tuna because the sweetness of the green beans complements the saltiness of the tuna and also helps cut the richness of the tuna’s flavor.

In other words, you’re getting two sides in one.

We love this combination with baked sweet potatoes and blackened tuna.

Brown Rice

As with most things, rice makes a great side dish for blackened tuna because it’s easy to eat and it’s delicious.

We’ve got all sorts of rice options for you here too. You could go with brown rice or arborio rice, which is an even more flavorful option.

You could make your brown rice with smoked sea salt or smoked paprika.

Vegetable Kabobs

A vegetable kabob is a perfect accompaniment for any type of fish or seafood, so it’s a nice choice for blackened tuna.

A vegetable kabob is something to look forward to when you sit down to a meal. It’s not a side dish that you rush through eating like many of the others we’ve listed here.

You can serve this with steamed broccoli or zucchini, or even serve it as the main dish with brown rice.

Salted Chips

Blackened tuna steaks are a treat in and of themselves. So, it’s not entirely necessary to pair them with something.

But, if you’re feeling like indulging, the pairing is simple.

You get the perfect salty and sweet side dish with your tuna steak.

Pasta Salad

In the spirit of serving blackened tuna with a side salad, we decided to add some pasta salad to the mix.

Pasta salad is a classic side, so we figured why not?

A big bowl of bright and colorful fresh greens like arugula, romaine, and watercress are a nice contrast to the dark, rich tuna and bold flavor of the dressing.

It’s a nice way to serve a meal that’s a little fancy and a little casual.

Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms

What do you get when you stuff a mushroom with cheese? The ultimate cheese-stuffed mushroom!

The perfect complement for blackened tuna is a stuffed mushroom!

And because we’re talking about stuffed mushrooms, why not try them in the shape of a horseshoe or crescent moon? They’re pretty and they’re fun!

See Also: What to Serve with Stuffed Mushrooms: 33 Easy Side Dishes

English Muffin and Eggs

A nice egg dish to go with a blackened tuna would be an English muffin with some eggs on top.

We like to cut ours up into bite-sized chunks, then add some fresh herbs to the top.

You can’t go wrong with an English muffin and some scrambled eggs. It’s comfort food at its finest.

Sliced Tomato and Cucumber Salad

When it comes to a side salad, the options are endless. We love this one because it’s a blank slate to add your own personal flare to.

If you like an intense flavor in your tuna, try serving this alongside some saucy, zesty flavors.

German Creamed Spinach

Blackened tuna is one of those flavors that is best served with something creamy, rich and comforting.

We love this dish with the classic German creamed spinach – it’s perfect with the blackened tuna and gives it a little twist.

Tuna, like beef, is a versatile fish. Blackened is an easy way to enjoy it in a different style than just grilled or baked.

The blackened fish is marinated first and then baked or broiled, giving it more flavor than simply grilling or baking.

We also love using this technique with salmon, chicken, shrimp, and shellfish.

Stir-Fried Vegetables with Asian Sauce

Here’s another healthy side dish that is great with blackened tuna.

A stir-fried medley of broccoli, snow peas, carrots, peppers, and onions with a fresh sesame and ginger dressing will give you a healthy yet delicious, and flavorful accompaniment for your blackened tuna.

Margherita Flatbread

As with the ceviche, margherita flatbread is the perfect pairing for our blackened tuna.

It’s a great vehicle for avocado slices and cherry tomatoes, which makes for the perfect topping.

It also adds some crunchy contrast to the soft fish.

Roasted Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Tuna is a great way to get people to open up to trying new flavors.

If you’re looking for a way to take the fear out of eating blackened tuna, this roasted crispy brussels sprouts recipe is the answer.

It’s got all the same bold flavors and textures you love in a brussels sprout, but the crispy coating adds that extra element of crunch.

Vegetable Skewers

Another great way to bring the fun factor to blackened tuna is by making skewers out of veggies.

We use carrots and asparagus, but you could go with a mix of peppers, onion and cherry tomatoes.

Winter Citrus Salad with Honey Dressing

You’re bound to have some leftover veggies after making tuna.

So, it makes sense to take some inspiration from the side dishes in this citrus salad.

It’s not your typical cucumber salad because we add avocado for creaminess and a honey dressing for that added sweet and tangy balance.

It’s a light yet satisfying dish that makes you want to get up and dance.

Barley Risotto Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

In the summer, we love to use blackened tuna as an appetizer or light main course.

It’s easy to prepare, it’s a great source of lean protein and it makes the most of the smoky flavor in the marinade.

It’s also an easy way to get your kids to eat their veggies if you’re going for healthy and natural.

Barley risotto stuffed portobello mushrooms are the perfect companion.

The mushrooms give you a bit of heft on your plate that’s so satisfying. It’s like you’re eating your own little food group.

Ratatouille

If you’re cooking blackened tuna, you want to get it out of the way early on in the meal so that it’s not competing for your attention later in the meal.

The ratatouille that goes with it is the perfect way to do just that – bring the flavors together and serve the sides separately from the main course.

Lobster Bisque

One more thing about blackened tuna, and this is really important: don’t overcook it!

You want to cook the tuna as little as possible so that the smoky flavor still comes through in its most intense form.

So, if your plan is to eat it for lunch or dinner, the lobster bisque should be the first dish.

You can serve it with grilled shrimp or scallops if you’re looking for more protein, but lobster bisque is a pretty great option all by itself.

Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes

One of the things that makes blackened fish so good is the fact that it’s cooked on the grill.

A grilled steak or burger can be good, but the smoky and sweet flavors are only amplified by grilling or smoking them.

Sweet potatoes are the perfect foil for such a smoky flavor.

The sweetness and deep flavor of sweet potatoes works well with a rich seafood dish like blackened tuna.

Roasted Tomatoes

Tomatoes are so versatile and we love them in everything, but we have a special place in our heart for a tomato salad.

This is a dish that is simple but it doesn’t need to be fancy.

It’s all about fresh ingredients – juicy tomatoes, ripe and full-flavored basil, tangy feta cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil.

The secret? Fresh ingredients. The rest of it just comes down to mixing and matching.

Tempura Green Beans

While we’re on the subject of veggie side dishes, let’s talk about these lovely tempura green beans.

Not only do they taste great, but they’re also super nutritious. The deep green color and vibrant crunch is a bonus.

You can get these at any Japanese grocery store or you can make them yourself!

We’re not talking a tempura batter here though, we’re using a light batter that is a blend of rice flour and cornmeal – so it’s gluten-free and perfect for vegans.

FAQ

What sides go with blackened tuna?

The most popular sides to serve with blackened tuna are mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, and baked beans. These are great options because they all complement the smoky flavor of the fish.

What goes with tuna fish?

If you’re looking for a side dish to serve with tuna fish, you can opt for potato salad, coleslaw or even macaroni salad. These dishes are all great options for pairing with your favorite tuna casserole or tuna salad sandwich.

What goes well with tuna sandwiches?

Tuna sandwiches can be a bit bland, so it’s best to pair them with a side that complements the flavor of the sandwich. For example, a side like potato wedges or coleslaw goes well with tuna sandwiches.

Conclusion

So, what goes well with blackened tuna?

It depends on the flavor of the blackened tuna, but if you want to pair it with something light and simple, a side salad or some fresh fruit is perfect. For a more robust dish, you can serve rice, couscous, pasta, or potatoes.