Ventresca Is The Ultimate Pantry Staple—Here's How to Use It

A wholesome indulgence that ticks all the boxes, what more could you ask for?

There lies a tacit but essential trifecta behind any great weeknight recipe: the dish must be wholesome, yet convenient to prepare, and of course, delicious. These values have only grown in importance today. Now more than ever, we’ve grown extremely conscious about our health, all while juggling various responsibilities between work, home, and for some, even schooling. And, amidst the madness, it can be tiring to make time for yourself and indulge in life’s simple pleasures.

Enter, Ventresca tuna.

Above Century Tuna launches their newest product, Ventresca

Above Ventresca tuna is packed with pure olive oil, lightly seasoned, and comes with olives, too

Ventresca, which is the Italian word for ‘belly’, is one of the most sought-after parts of the tuna fish for its velvety tenderness and rich flavour. Discerning foodies and sushi-lovers are surely well-acquainted with the treat, known in Japanese cuisine as the decadent toro. Beyond its sumptuous appeal, tuna belly is also filled with healthy fats, especially when it comes to sashimi-grade tuna species like yellowfin. Since the belly only comprises around three 3 to 4 per cent of the fish’s total weight, it is a treasured treat indeed.

The canning of such exquisite delicacies is popular in other parts of the world like Lisbon, Portugal where tinned octopus, eel, and sardines are essential. In Italy, the very term Ventresca pertains to luxury canned or jarred tuna, considered to be the among finest forms of enjoying tuna—and thankfully, it is now available in the Philippines.

Above Century Tuna Ventresca

Packed with pure olive oil, minimally but skillfully seasoned to accentuate the fish’s naturally deep flavour, Century Tuna’s Ventresca yellowfin tuna belly makes healthy cooking convenient, tasty, and luxurious. Topped with black olives to impart a flavourful bite, you’re merely a few steps away from completing a delicious meal.

Here are four quick and easy ways to enjoy Ventresca:

1. A hot slice of bread

Above For a simple snack, try Ventresca on some warm toast

For a comforting yet light snack, heat up a slice of sandwich bread, baguette or batard–any bread of your choosing, then toast it up in the oven and top it off with a generous serving of Ventresca tuna. Offering a blank canvas for the rich tuna, each bite will effortlessly highlight the Ventresca’s natural depth of flavour. Allow the tuna to sit on the warm bread for a few minutes before you dig in, inviting the luscious olive oil to seep into the slightly chewy centre.

2. With manchego cheese

Above Lean into decadence with cheeses like manchego—they go surprisingly well with Ventresca

Looking for something more decadent? Pair Ventresca tuna with aged Spanish manchego, creating a crave-worthy marriage of Mediterranean flavours. Made with sheep’s milk, the buttery, nutty cheese has a slightly salty finish that accentuates the flavours of Ventresca tuna. Trust us, it’s a pairing you’ll want to keep in your back pocket.

3. On a cracker

Above Make entertaining easy yet delicious by serving Ventresca on crackers

Ventresca on crackers is an even more convenient way of indulging in the Italian-style delicacy: simply lay some tuna on a cracker and enjoy, no reheating required whatsoever. Perfect for last-minute entertaining, you can even use a variety of bases like saltines and melba toasts to explore how they each highlight a different flavour profile in the tuna while adding that much welcomed textural crunch. You may also opt to add your desired mix-ins, but the rich Ventresca does wonders all on its own.

4. Carb-free options

Above Opt to enjoy Ventresca with tomatoes and lettuce for a low-calorie bite

If you’ve been watching your carbohydrate intake, opt for lettuce cups or tomato slices in place of bread or crackers. Sweet yet tart, the vibrant tomato cuts through the richness of Ventresca with some acidity, yet not too much to compete with the tuna’s celebrated creamy mouthfeel. Likewise, the refreshing and slightly bitter romaine lettuce provides an ideal foil to the fruity olive oil and slightly briny olives while adding some great crunch.

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Ventresca by Century is available for purchase at Pacific Bay.

Topics

Century Tuna Ventresca Recipes Healthy Easy

Tatler Asia

Healthy, Convenient, Delicious: 4 Ways to Enjoy Luxurious Ventresca Tuna

1. A hot slice of bread

2. With manchego cheese

3. On a cracker

4. Carb-free options