No Mayonnaise Tuna Salad
I have a confession I despise mayonnaise!
I never liked it growing up and its one of the few foods I still cannot tolerate as an adult. So I would often make tuna salad with mustard instead of mayo and it was fine! But eventually that got old, so I had to start thinking outside of the box. I love my Mexican Tuna but was craving something different!
If you have ever had canned tuna, you know it can be a bit of a strong flavor, but it pairs really well with citrus and other Mediterranean flavors. So using a lemon based dressing instead of mayo is the perfect way to switch up your usual tuna salad.
I am always looking for ways to add in more veggies, so instead of just the usual chopped celery and onion, I decided to add in lots of Mediterranean veggies right into the tuna salad for texture, crunch and to make it more filling!
How Long Does Tuna Salad Last
Tuna salad tastes the best when its eaten fresh, but it can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. Because this has fish and mayonnaise in it, dont leave it sitting on the countertop for too long in room temperature.
If you want to freeze this, the answer is yes! Just place the salad in a freezer safe container and store for up to 2 months. Just note that after youve thawed it in the fridge, drain out the excess liquid once more. Then, give it a good mix before eating.
No Mayo Tuna Salad Recipe
If you’re looking for a fresh take on a traditional tuna salad recipe, you’ve found the right place. This tuna salad recipe is Mediterranean style, with wonderful flavors from citrus, cucumber, Kalamata olives, capers, feta and more. Take a look at how to make this no-mayo, Mediterranean tuna salad in this blog post!
This tuna salad recipe is gluten free, low carb and without mayo!
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Healthy Tuna Salad Common Questions
What can you use instead of mayo in tuna salad
If you want the same traditional creamy consistency but dont love mayo, you could use greek yogurt, mashed avocado or even cottage cheese instead of mayo. Or ou could try this tahini based dressing! To switch things up and want a different take on tuna salad, you can use a vinaigrette or your favorite dressing instead of mayo!
Healthy ways to enjoy tuna salad with no mayo
Tuna salad does not have to just be eaten on a sandwich or on salad greens! Here are some fun ways to serve tuna salad that you may not have thought of:
For Better Tuna Salad Sandwiches With Mayo Or Without Add More Fish
Years ago, my dad took a trip to Bermuda, where he picked up a peculiar and surprisingly good tuna salad innovation: adding Worcestershire sauce to it. This was long before anyone was talking about umami, and our awareness of which ingredients were “umami bombs” was nonexistent. We were completely perplexed about why Worcestershire-spiked tuna salad tasted so good, but it did, so we added it ever after.
Today, there’s no mystery at all. We know that Worcestershire sauce is part of a family of glutamate-rich foods, many of them fermented and aged, that boost the savory flavor of whatever they’re added to. Now we frequently reach for these flavor boosters, whether Worcestershire, soy sauce, Parmesan cheese, or fish sauce, to enhance a wide variety of dishes. Oftentimes we’re using them in tiny enough quantities that we get a subtle improvement in the overall dish without it being obvious what the source is, such as when we add a splash of Asian fish sauce to Bolognese or French onion soup.
Still, I have a couple of other thoughts beyond the umami booster on how to make better tuna saladincluding how to do it without mayo, since I know there’s a small faction of incredibly bizarre people out there who for some reason can’t stand the stuff. Read on for more of my observations below.
Also Check: How Do You Make Tuna Macaroni Salad
How To Make A Tuna Melt
Another classic tuna recipe is the tuna melt. When a regular tuna fish sandwich isnt enough, make a tuna melt! If you know how to make a grilled cheese sandwich, you can make a tuna melt.
To make a tuna melt, get two slices of bread and spread butter on one side of each slice. Put some tuna salad and sliced cheese in between the bread slices to make a sandwich, butter side out. Cook your tuna melt in a skillet over medium heat until the bread is toasted on both sides and the cheese melts.
You can also make open faced tuna melts by piling tuna and slices of cheese on top of English muffin halves and popping them in your oven to melt the cheese. Try adding tomato or avocado slices to your tuna melt.
What Substitutes Can I Use Instead Of Mayo
Although mayonnaise tastes creamy and delicious in any salad, if you want to try other options, you can do that as well. Here are a few things you can substitute mayo with:
- Sour cream: Sour cream is creamy, smooth with a hint of acidity.
- Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt is very nutritious. It is high in calcium and protein. Moreover, it is creamy and smooth, i.e., a perfect mayo substitute.
- Hummus: Hummus is creamy, smooth, and rich in flavors. Along with tahini, it adds Mediterranean flavors to any dish.
- Pesto: Made from basil and olive oil, pesto is rich in antioxidants and vitamins. This herby sauce is just a suitable substitute for mayo.
- Avocado: What can be healthier and creamier than mashed avocadoes? Avocados are full of health benefits. You can also use them instead of mayo. Because their natural flavor is quite bland, you can adjust the seasonings and enjoy the creaminess it brings to the salad.
Also Check: Low Sodium Salad Dressing Store Bought
Ways To Eat Tuna Salad
Okay, so I have ZERO issues with forking this tuna salad into my mouth straight from the bowl I mixed it in. However, if youre looking for a more refined way to serve it, Ive got some suggestions! But first let me tell you, since this is a Mediterranean tuna salad, and the Mediterranean diet steers clear of refined grains, serving this recipe over bread is really not the best option.
I mean, you CAN if you want to, but there are so, SO many other delicious alternatives! Like over a bed of leafy greens , wrapped in butter lettuce, or even old school boat-style in a halved and hollowed out cucumber or zucchini. Or in an avocado half! If youre an avocado fan, at some point you absolutely have to try it in a halved grilled avocado
How To Make A Healthy Tuna Salad Sandwich
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What To Serve With No
You can serve this tuna salad in so many ways:
- On a piece of toasted whole grain bread
- As a sandwich with two pieces of bread and lettuce in the middle
- On romaine lettuce leaves for a low-carb snack
- With crackers as a dip
- In a whole wheat wrap
- Stuffed into bell peppers or avocados
- Stuffed into pita pockets
If you made this recipe, Id love to see your creation! Dont forget to snap a picture and tag me on . Follow along on and for more healthy & tasty recipes!
Easy Tuna Salad Recipe
This easy tuna salad recipe makes the best tuna sandwiches! This classic tuna salad is the perfect recipe to make ahead for quick lunches.
When youre craving a tuna sandwich, you need a simple tuna salad recipe that will give you a crave-worthy tuna fish sandwich. This easy tuna salad is made with just a handful of ingredients. Its the best tuna salad!
This tuna salad is quick and easy to make, and it keeps well in the refrigerator for a few days. You can make it ahead and have a healthy, satisfying lunch ready to go. Use this tuna salad to make a classic tuna salad sandwich, served on a croissant, roll or bread. Its also delicious on crackers! For a low carb meal, serve your tuna salad wrapped in lettuce leaves or on a bed of greens as a salad.
If you like this tuna sandwich recipe, youre going to love my healthy chicken salad recipe and my easy recipe for classic egg salad. These are the three recipes that I rotate between when I make sandwiches for lunch on the weekend. If you asked me to choose a favorite between these three easy sandwich recipes, I couldnt. Theyre all so good!
I use plain Greek yogurt in my tuna salad recipe. You can use mayonnaise instead, if you prefer. I like to make tuna salad without mayo, using Greek yogurt, because it makes a healthy tuna salad. You can also use mashed avocado to make a dairy-free tuna sandwich without mayo!
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Tips To Make Tuna Salad
How To Make Tuna Salad With Greek Yogurt
This high-protein tuna salad is so easy to make. It only requires one bowl and a fork .
First, chop and dice all of your veggies: dice 1 celery stalk, ½ bell pepper, ¼ English cucumber, and chop the parsley. Cut ¼ avocado into cubes.
Open the can of tuna and drain the liquid into the sink. I usually drain the liquid by squeezing the lid against the canned tuna contents. Then, scoop out the canned tuna into a large bowl and “shred” it with a fork.
Add the remaining ingredients into the bowl. Combine the ingredients and mix together with a fork. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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How To Make A Healthy Tuna Salad With Lemon And Feta
Step 1: Prep ingedients
Open and drain tuna cans. Chop celery into small pieces.
Add lemon juice, feta cheese, lemon zest and black pepper to a mixing bowl. Mix until they are evenly combined.
Step 2: Mix it all together and serve
Add tuna, celery and fresh dill to the bowl. Toss to combine again. Serve with black pepper on lettuce, bread or with crackers or cucumbers.
Sides To Serve With A Sandwich
You can definitly get creative with your sides that you choose to serve with this sandwich. Here are some great options:
- Veggies Slices
- Chips
- Tortillas
As always, if you made this simple, quick, & easy recipe please leave a comment below. Id love to hear what you served with you tuna sandwich Enjoy!
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How To Make Tuna Salad Without Mayonnaise Because Yes You Can
Nothing will ever replace the classic tuna sandwiches we ate as kids. Our tuna was served on white bread, bound together with a couple knifefuls of mayonnaise, and we ate them happily while sitting at the kitchen counter, with our legs swinging, too short to touch the floor.
But as we’ve matured, so have our lunches and outlook on nutrition. There’s nothing wrong with eating this time-honored sandwich every now and again, but there are so many delicious, healthful ways to transform a can of tuna fish into something more gourmet. Mayo’s main responsibilities are to bind the tuna fish while adding a creamy texture and a subtle flavor. These nine substitutions below get the job done, and then some. Check out these delicious, wholesome twists and you might not ever go back to the kid stuff.
Get the Avocado Tuna Salad recipe by The Healthy MavenGet the Curried Apple Tuna Salad recipe by Delicious In A DashGet the Tuna And Cottage Cheese Salad recipe by Hungry Healthy GirlGet the Barbecue And Hummus Tuna Salad recipe by Eating Bird FoodGet the BBQ Tuna recipe by Meals and MilesGet the Tuscan Tuna And White Bean Sandwich recipe by Spache The SpatulaGet the French Onion Laughing Cow Tuna Salad recipe by Green Lite BitesGet the Light Tzatziki Tuna Salad recipe by Sarcastic Cooking
Healthy Tuna Salad Recipe
This healthy tuna salad recipe is made with no mayo, but its still full of flavor. Its dairy free, paleo friendly and super easy to make. Serve it as a sandwich or in a lettuce wrap for a great heart healthy lunch. Make about 8 servings.
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. I will never recommend a product I dont use or trust.
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What You Need To Make This Tuna
Arnold Bread- any variety toasted would work well. This bread is sturdy, delicious, and hold the heavy fillings nicely.
Albacore tuna I always prefer this less fishy premium white chunk tuna. I purchase the variety in water for less calories.
Avocado- I used 2 ripe Hass avocados. You can tell an avocado is ripe when it is deep green/almost black and soft in texture. Be sure to remove the stone and peel.
Red onion- Provides lots of flavor and adds a pretty color to the salad.
Celery- Provides a crunchy texture and nice, mild flavor to this salad.
Lemon juice- Enhances flavor and prevents the tuna from browning.
Kale, tomato, red onion- You can add your favorite fresh toppings, but these are our favorites.
Spices- garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and a little sea salt work nicely to add yummy flavor.
Find everything you need at Walmart for this yummy lunch or dinner idea.
I love a brand that both gives back and tastes wonderful! Bimbo Bakeries is proudly partnering with Feeding America supporting their community through food donations and volunteerism.
How To Make The Best Avocado Tuna Salad The Ingredients
Living a healthy lifestyle is a goal we should all strive for. Two very important components to a healthy lifestyle is exercising regularly and eating nutritious wholefoods. Avocado tuna salad makes use of fantastic ingredients that are packed with essential nutrients to keep your body and mind healthy and strong.
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Tuna Is Awesome Because Its Basically Pure Protein
It packs in 22 grams of protein in just one can! Say what!? You can also get pretty creative with it which I love!
Sometimes I use guacamole or a yogurt-based salad dressing instead of mayo in my recipes. Ive also used cottage cheese before!
Are we even surprised a little bit? Ha!
I kept this tuna salad on the healthy side by using greek yogurt instead of mayo and loading it up with veggies. I also served mine on high-fiber crackers which made it extra filling.
Easy And Healthy Tuna Salad
It took me a few years to come up with healthy tuna salad recipe I like. I am more of a salmon salad girl but my kids love tuna salad, so I kept trying.
My passion for salads runs deep. But to be honest, I tried all healthy versions of tuna salad with avocado, and with yogurt instead of mayo. Not the same although I do quite love avocado egg salad. Just not with tuna.
I already struggle with the whole concept of tasty tuna salad, so it took a few tries to come up with what I consider a healthy tuna salad that is healthy yet tastes great. I am finally happy to share the best healthy tuna salad recipe I can eat too haha. There just has to be a touch of mayo. The end.
#olenafact: A healthy lifestyle is all about balance and can include healthy tuna salad.
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Tuna Salad Without Mayo Faq
What can I use In Tuna Instead of Mayo?
Instead of using mayo in tuna salad you can use greek yogurt or regular yogurt. Yogurt mimics the texture of mayo with less fat and more protein.
Can I use yoghurt instead of mayonnaise?
Yes, you can use yoghurt instead of mayonnaise in most recipes. Yoghurt is a great replacement for mayo in tuna salad.
How long does Tuna Salad last for?
Tuna Salad will last in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Its best eaten fresh
Can you make tuna salad without mayo ahead of time?
Yes, you can make tuna salad without mayo ahead of time. It will last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator, but we recommend making and eating it fresh.
This is such a great recipe for a quick meal or meal prepping I think youre going to love it!
Healthy Tuna Salad Vstraditional Tuna Salad
Is a tuna salad healthy? If I could have a penny for every time I have been asked that question!
Traditional tuna salad has 1 cup of mayo that adds over 1600 calories and 24 grams of fat. Im not here to tell you mayo is bad. Quality mayo like an avocado oil one or organic mayo in moderation is fine. This healthy tuna salad uses a touch of mayo combined with greek yogurt, you still get amazing taste but at a fraction of the calories and fat.Another healthy consideration is that there is mercury in tuna. Yes, there is. Especially in albacore tuna 3 times more than other varieties. But good news is that albacore tuna is more expensive, so I dont buy it and you dont need it for this healthy tuna salad recipe. And other good news is that we dont eat tuna salad even every week, so moderation is in check. Healthy tuna recipes are high in healthy Omega 3s and protein.
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