Cukok Tongkol -Tuna

Tuna

Generally, Singaporeans of Baweanese descent enjoy eating Tuna, also known as "Cukok Tongkol" in Baweanese language. "Cukok" means fish and "Tongkol" refers to "Tuna". In Singapore, the word "Tongkol" is synonym to the word "Boyan". It is a well-known fact among the people living in the Singapore Malay community that Tuna is associated with the Baweanese due to their passion for having this fish in their daily meals. If an individual happens to be seen eating tuna dish, the perception that comes into mind is that, the particular person is a Baweanese by race. Majority of the Singapore Baweanese take pride in eating Tuna because they want to be identified as "Boyanese". However, there are few who refuse to be associated with it and deny about their ethnicity.

Sliced Tuna

Before the 1970s, due to low demand, Tuna was very cheap compared to the other big fishes. The cheap price and ability to feed several mouths were among the several reasons Tuna became very popular among the Baweanese living in Singapore during that period. Back then, the non-Baweanese did not like to buy Tuna due to difficulties in cleaning and treating it -too much blood and strong smell of blood. In 1960s a big size Tuna (as shown above) used to cost about 80 cents. Today, it is still one of the cheapest fish among the other big ones. The Tuna in the above photograph cost S$7.00 after bargaining.

Kela Celok Tongkol

Kela Pentheng Tongkol

Kela Tomes Tongkol

Sambel Tomes Tongkol

Semur Tongkol

Tuna can be grilled or fried or cooked into variety of dishes. Some of the Baweanese Tuna dishes include "Kela Celok Tongkol", "Kela Pentheng Tongkol", "Kela Tomes Tongkol", "Sambel Tomes Tongkol" and "Semur Tongkol". These dishes can be eaten with steam white rice.

Grilled Tuna

Black Soy Sauce with chili, onion and lime juice

Fried Tuna

Recipe for Fried Tuna
Ingredients
1 medium size Tuna -clean and slice thinly
Tumeric paste
Oil

Tumeric paste
A spoonful of Tumeric powder
Pinch of Salt
Water

Method
Mix sliced Tuna with the Tumeric paste
Leave about 5 minutes before deep fry

Tuna makes a delicious grilled fish. It is usually eaten by dipping bit pieces of it's flesh into a bowl of black soy sauce with pounded chili, sliced onion and lime juice. The body of Tuna can be sliced thinly and marinated with tumeric paste before deep fry. Grilled and Fried Tuna can be eaten with steam white rice. Coconut vegetable soup or Asam vegetable soup added on to the rice makes a perfect meal! Yummy!

Cabbage in Coconut Soup

Green Vegetable in Coconut Soup

Lady Fingers in Asam Soup