How To Make Tuna Salad From Scratch
Use these simple to follow instructions to make this delicious tuna salad recipe from scratch:
Coat the fresh tuna in olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Grill the tuna on both sides until dark grill marks have formed and cooked throughout. Chill completely in the refrigerator.
Add all the prepared vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, salt, and pepper to a bowl.
Roughly mince the fresh tuna and add it to the bowl with vegetables.
Mix until completely combined and serve or cover and chill until ready to serve.
Ingredients To Make Tuna Salad
- Tuna: I like to use white albacore as it has a great chunky and firm texture that doesnt disappear when you mix it with the other ingredients
- Celery: Celery adds a wonderful crunchy texture as well as a hit of freshness.
- Red onions: I prefer to use red onion in salads as it is much milder than white. Mince it finely so that its not overpowering.
- Greek yogurt: I use Greek yogurt rather than mayonnaise, to make this wonderfully creamy. Greek yogurt is also a great source of protein and probiotics.
- Lemon juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for a wonderful zingy taste that cuts through the yogurt.
- Dijon mustard: Mustard adds some tang and spice and works so well with the other ingredients.
- Salt and pepper: To help bring out all of the other flavors.
- Parsley: Fresh parsley really lifts this dish and makes it light and fresh tasting. You can use other fresh herbs like cilantro or dill.
Using The Right Kitchen Tools
Using the right cooking tools in the kitchen is important to ensure that everything turns out successfully. The best way to thicken tuna salad is by using several of these. Also using the right kitchen tools will really make the cooking process a lot easier. There are different tools that are for different purposes and you should use the right ones for your dish. Itll save you time and energy in the long run.
Invest in these tools that will make tuna salad easier to make and serve:
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How Can I Make Tuna Salad Healthier
As mentioned in the previous question, there are ways to reduce the amount of fat and calories in tuna salad by substituting certain ingredients like low-fat mayonnaise or yogurts for regular versions. Spices, fruits, vegetables, legumes , and other additions can be used to make tuna salad more filling and delicious!
The Perfect Tuna Salad
No matter how creative or spontaneous or inventive I aim to be with my weekday lunches, at some point I always end up craving just simple a tuna salad sandwich. Its lunchtime comfort food. Has it been a while since you last had tuna salad? Heres my favorite, most basic recipe. I think its just about perfect.
Theres not much to making tuna salad, really. My husband often just mixes the tuna with mayo and a few cracks of black pepper and calls it good! I like to add some crunch to balance out the cream, and so I mix in some chopped celery and shallots when I make it. A spoonful of pickle relish might not be the way you grew up with it, but try it the sweet-and-sour pickles add just a little something extra to each bite.
I also like water-packed tuna, partly because I think it has a cleaner tuna flavor. But if youre a fan of oil-packed tuna, by all means use that!
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What Goes With Tuna Salad
While this recipe is great on its own, theres so many creative ways to serve it.
- Sandwich: Make it into a sandwich along with a layer of lettuce and tomatoes.
- Wrap: Turn it into a wrap with my cassava flour tortillas.
- Lettuce Wrap: Use butter lettuce leaves for a lighter, low-carb option.
- Stuffed Avocado or Tomato: Stuff it into avocado or tomato halves.
- Dip: Serve it with crackers or chips.
Properly Drying Your Tuna
We already discussed a few ways to do this, but this is by far the most effective option and thats by making sure your canned tuna has been drained properly.
The first step in how to drain tuna is to place a sieve over a bowl and place the tuna into the sieve.
Next, lift the tuna up and start squeezing out any excess water.
Then, keep repeating the previous process until theres no water left in your tuna meat. This prevents those tuna juices from leaking into your delicious tuna salad.
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Tips For The Best Tuna Sandwich
- Toast the bread for your tuna sandwich to help it hold up to the tuna and to keep it from getting soggy. Try a hearty whole grain bread for a healthy and satisfying tuna fish sandwich.
- Make this tuna sandwich recipe your own by adding lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheese, or whatever you like in your tuna sandwich.
- Tuna sandwiches are best when you serve them right after making them. To make ahead, prepare the tuna salad, refrigerate, and wait to assemble your sandwich right before serving.
- For a low carb meal, serve your tuna stuffed into hollowed out tomatoes or in avocado halves.
Nutrition Facts Of Tuna Salad
Tuna is a great source of protein. Its low in calories and saturated fat but high in omega-3 fatty acids. The average can contain around 40% to 50% of your daily intake of omega-3s!
When you buy tuna canned and packed in water, its super cheap and only has twice as many grams of protein as carbs or fat. Its also low in calories and total fat, which is why its a smart choice for people on weight-loss diets.
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What Can I Put On Tuna Instead Of Mayo
Dressing ingredients such as mustard, lemon juice or vinegar, and spices can all be used to make a salad dressing-type sauce for tuna. This will keep the tuna salad from becoming too dry and give it extra flavor! Plain yogurt is another good substitute for mayo, especially if you like the tangy taste.
Other options would be to use half or even a quarter of the amount of mayo called for in any of the above recipes to reduce the calories and fat. Another idea is to try swapping out regular mayonnaise with low-fat or light mayonnaise, which you can find at most grocery stores.
How To Make Tuna Salad
To get started, youll need to drain your tuna. After cutting the lid with a can opener, press the lid against the tuna and tilt the can to drain all the liquid out over a sink. Remove the lid and place the tuna in a medium sized bowl.
Then, add the mayonnaise, celery, red onion, parsley, and dijon mustard to the bowl. Use a fork to mix everything together, while breaking up any large pieces of tuna. Season with salt and pepper to taste and thats it!
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What To Serve With Tuna Salad Sandwich
Serve this on bread for an amazing sandwich. You can toast the bread if you prefer or eat it plain. We have used sandwich bread, subs, croissants and even rolls.
It is also great served over lettuce and you can add any other salad toppings you love. You can use a lettuce wrap for more low carb options as well.
We like to keep it simple and serve easy but delicious sides with tuna salad. It goes great with pasta salad. We love this Greek Pasta Salad.
This Quick & Easy Cucumber Tomato Salad Recipe is also another yummy side dish. You might also like this Easy Tropical Fruit Salad and you are set.
Oh and we also really love Garlic Ranch Pretzels. This is definitely a kid favorite.
Add a few pickle spears and you are ready to enjoy.
Tuna Salad Sandwich Recipe
Im a huge fan of tuna salad and try to always keep it in the fridge. This makes for a quick meal and it is super filling and inexpensive to make. The tuna is packed with protein and so budget friendly.
You will love how easy it is and it tastes much better than anything you can buy in the stores. It has the perfect combination of tuna and mayo. It isnt too thick or too runny. Seriously, it is just the best!
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What’s The Best Tuna To Use
Any can or jar of tuna will work in a sandwich. Just make sure you drain the water or oil before mixing with the ingredients for tuna salad.
I prefer using water-packed tuna in tuna salad, because Im already adding mayonnaise to the recipe. I save oil-packed tuna for dishes where the oil matters a bit more, such as in this Salad Nicoise, because oil-packed tuna is richer than water-packed tuna.
That being said, tuna salad is no time to get pickyjust use what you have on hand.
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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How Do You Make Tuna Salad Not Taste Fishy
For any of the above recipes, you can use tuna packed in oil or spring water to reduce the amount of fishiness that you taste. Plain white albacore tuna has a more distinct flavor than chunk light tuna, but either can be used for these recipes. The type of fish that tuna salad is made from will also have an impact on the taste of the final dish.
What Can I Use In Place Of Mayonnaise In Tuna Salad
While mayonnaise is almost always linked with tuna salad, it has no special powers that make it the only option for tuna salad magic. Mayonnaise is used to smooth out the tuna salad and bind the ingredients together, but these alternatives work just as well:
- Mustard
As you can see, the options are almost endless.
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Recipe Tips And Variations
- Yield: This recipe makes about 4 cups of tuna salad, enough for 6 sandwiches .
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Mayo-free: Instead of mayonnaise, try making the dressing with plain yogurt or whipped silken tofu. You can also add lemon vinaigrette .
- More mix-ins: Add a small amount of diced apple , a handful of thawed peas, or a couple of chopped hard-boiled eggs to your tuna salad.
- Lettuce wraps: Tuna salad is delicious wrapped in lettuce leaves or piled on a bed of lettuce.
- Tuna pasta salad: Make a tasty tuna pasta salad by adding cooked macaroni, rotini, or your other favorite small pasta.
- Stuffed tomatoes: Hollow out juicy tomatoes and fill with tuna salad for an old-fashioned, and super-delicious, lunch entrée.
- Ahi Tuna Salad: Is the Ahi tuna looking fabulous at the fish market, or have you got an extra bit of ahi tuna from last nights dinner? Splurge and make tuna salad with it. Cook it through, then flake it up in this recipe.
What To Eat With This Salad
You can eat this salad all by itself but you can also serve it with:
- Toast just but a couple of slices in a toaster
- Baguette is great to eat with this salad
- Dinner rolls are also great to serve with tuna salad
- Crackers are also great to eat with tuna salad
- Soft tortilla as the tortilla can be eaten with everything
Have fun making this healthy salad!
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Classic Tuna Salad Recipe
A classic tuna salad recipe is one of my go-to easy lunches . Not only does it make for a super delicious meal, but its packed with protein and keeps me satisfied for hours. Also, there are no complicated methods or ingredients needed. And meal preps a cinch. I often make a batch of this salad on Sunday to enjoy for an easy meal or a snack on Monday and Tuesday.
With just a few basic ingredients probably already in the fridge and pantry, you can whip up a salad or sandwiches or even scoop it into half an avocado or lettuce cups for an effortless lunch!
Ways To Serve This Tuna Salad Recipe
There are so many different ways to serve tuna salad, and they all happen to be super delicious!
- Bread: Serve your salad on toasted wheat bread with lettuce and tomato.
- Pita: Stuff your salad into half of a pita bread. Add lettuce and tomato, if youd like.
- Crackers: Scoop up the salad with crackers.
- Lettuce cups: Spoon the salad into romaine or butter lettuce leaves.
- Tomato: Stuff the salad into a hollowed out tomato.
- Wrap: Spread a tortilla with tuna salad and any other add-ins you like and roll up tightly. Cut in half and serve.
- Avocado: Stuff the tuna into avocado halves.
- Cucumber slices: Spoon the tuna salad onto large cucumber slices.
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What Kind Of Tuna To Use In Tuna Salad
The best kind of tuna for tuna salad is tuna packed in water, not oil. You dont want extra oil in your tuna salad.
Look for cans of wild tuna that are labeled, pole and line caught to be sure that other species werent harmed when the tuna was caught. My favorite tuna is Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value brand Skipjack Wild Tuna in water, which is labeled as pole and line caught one at a time. Not only is this tuna responsibly caught, the tuna tastes like its higher quality and it seems like you get more tuna per 5 ounce can than other brands. I also love that the only ingredients are skipjack tuna and water.
Tips For Making Tuna Salad Taste Better:
Add something crunchy to give it more texture! Try adding chopped celery or sliced almonds. You can also try swapping mayonnaise with plain yogurt. If youre not a fan of tuna packed in water, Starkist now offers tuna cans in oil and spring water.
If youre up for it, here is another quick and simple recipe thats guaranteed to be your go-to dish from now on! You can change the flavors and ingredients according to what you like. For example: if you hate pickles, swap them out with cucumbers or onions.
Ingredients:
1 can tuna fish packed in water
2 tablespoons plain yogurt or mayonnaise
1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard, Dijon Mustard, or other preferred flavors
Dash of cayenne pepper if desired
Instructions:
Drain liquid from the tuna can and place fish in a medium bowl. Using a fork, flake fish into small pieces. Stir in plain yogurt or mayonnaise until its evenly combined throughout the mixture. Add desired spices, fresh or dried herbs, lemon juice, salt/pepper to taste. Serve on bread with lettuce, tomatoes, and your favorite toppings.
If youre craving more traditional tuna salad that tastes just like mom used to make, then try this recipe that cooks the tuna for you. With a crispy top and a soft creamy center, its packed with flavor and guaranteed to be a family favorite!
1 can tuna fish packed in water
2 tablespoons plain yogurt or mayonnaise
1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard, Dijon Mustard, or other preferred flavors
Dash of cayenne pepper if desired
Instructions:
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Swaps And Suggestions For Tuna Salad
Im strictly a mayo kind of gal, but if you prefer Miracle Whip or light mayo, go for it. Ive never tried it with yogurt, but Greek yogurt might work, especially if you add a little lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
To toast or not, its up to you, if you’re turning this into a sandwich. Sometimes, Im in a toasty mood and crave a little crunch, and sometimes I just want the comfort of soft bread.
No bread in the house? My better half always prefers tuna salad on saltines, but you could make some of these biscuits or homemade soda bread.