Marie Galante Tuna Flakes

Marie Galante Tuna Flakes by la belle-iloise

Marie Galante Tuna Flakes by la belle-iloise consists of flaked white tuna with coconut, lime, and red bell pepper. Unlike a spread, the fish remains in pieces, allowing you to feel its texture as you eat.

Marie Galante Tuna Flakes is a Caribbean-spiced canned tuna from la belle-iloise in Quiberon, Brittany. The 80-gram tin contains flaked white tuna in extra virgin olive oil, accompanied by lime juice, coconut, red bell pepper, roasted onions, and raisins.

Lime, coconut, and roasted onion

The lime takes the lead, providing a sharper, noticeably more bitter acidity than lemon, complemented by its finely grated zest. Together, they keep the fish bright and vibrant, even after months in the tin.

The coconut lies beneath, sweet and soft, mellowing the acidity rather than prolonging it. Raisins provide occasional bursts of sweetness where you least expect them, and the roasted onions add a dark, almost caramel-like depth.

The white tuna itself is the mildest of its kind, featuring light, flaky meat that separates into layers. It stands up to these seasonings without being overpowered, maintaining its own subtle character to the very end.

On blinis, in rice, or with green salad

Served on small warm blinis or toasted white bread, this tin makes an aperitif that requires absolutely no preparation. A squeeze of fresh lime on top brightens it up even further.

Folded into lukewarm rice, it becomes a Caribbean-inspired lunch, with the oil seasoning the rice as well. It also pairs perfectly with a green salad featuring avocado, as the sweetness of the coconut balances the bitterness of the leaves.

Its bolder sibling with significantly more spice is the Zanzibar Tuna Flakes, which opts for heat rather than fruitiness.

Flaked instead of filleted

"Émietté" means crumbled, and the word describes a unique way of canning fish. Instead of whole fillets, the tuna is packed in irregular pieces, mixed with vegetables, fruits, and oil.

This changes the character of the entire tin, as there is room between the pieces of fish for all the other ingredients. The seasoning is absorbed from all sides rather than just the exterior, and with every spoonful, you get fish, bell pepper, and coconut all at once.

Marie-Galante, the small round island off Guadeloupe, lends its name and its list of ingredients to this blend. Coconut, lime, and bell pepper have long been at home there, and here they meet fish from the Atlantic.

The perfect snack-sized tin

At 80 grams, it is enough for two sandwiches or a serving of rice, and it vanishes faster than you might think when opening it. Unopened, it keeps for years in the cupboard; once opened, any leftovers should be covered and kept in the refrigerator, where they will last for one to two days. You can find other canned fish nearby, and the range from Quiberon can be found in our la belle-iloise selection.