Watermelon 'Tuna' Is the Fish-Free Dish To Try This Summer

If you love the flavor of sashimi tuna but don't love the idea of eating raw fish, innovative TikTok foodie @ligier has figured out the solution: Make faux tuna from watermelon. It's cheaper, easier, and a little more…trustworthy.

I know what you're thinking (ew), but hear me out. With just a simple marinade and an hour-long oven bake, you won't even recognize the fruit. The texture is transformed from crisp and crunchy to soft, smooth, and almost silky. The relatively bland melon takes on all the flavor of the salty, spicy sauce, and the finished product goes delightfully with all the fillings in your poke bowl.

If you follow a plant-based, or maybe just interested in some fascinating food science, give this fresh and creative recipe a try while watermelons are in their prime.

How to Make TikTok Watermelon Tuna

• ¼ of a whole watermelon
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon neutral oil
• 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons black sesame seeds

1. Slice a watermelon into 2-inch chunks.
2. Combine soy sauce, oils, and red pepper flakes in a bowl, then transfer to a large plastic bag. Add the watermelon and let marinate for 6+ hours.
3. Preheat your oven to 350°.
4. Move the watermelon to a lined baking sheet and bake for 1 hour. Set aside the leftover marinade. Combine sesame seeds in a bowl.
5. Pour marinade over the baked watermelon and dip each piece into sesame seed mixture, making sure to reach all sides.