Tips For Making Italian Tuna Salad
- I used yellow fin tuna in water but you could totally use albacore if you prefer. My mom said she though it would be fantastic in tuna packed in oil. I havent tried this but Im sure it would be tasty, although maybe not as healthy.
- Make sure you drain your cans of tuna really well .
- If youre not planning on serving it right away, you might consider waiting to add the basil as it will wilt over time. It will still taste delicious, but it might not stay as pretty.
- This is a great meal prep option in youre looking for a light and healthy lunch option to bring to work.
- As always, taste as you mix and adjust the seasonings according to your taste!
How To Make This Recipe
Let me show you how easy it is to whip up this yummy lunch! Once you have all of your ingredients out and ready to go, tuna fish salad is as easy as stirring everything together in a large bowl.
Full, printable instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
My favorite way to serve tuna salad sandwiches is on fluffy, buttery croissants, but I also often enjoy this salad mixture with whole wheat bread or crackers.
Healthy Mediterranean Tuna Salad
Heres a quick mid-week recipe that you can whip up in a couple minutes flat. This Healthy Mediterranean Tuna Salad is full of flavor. I add fresh lemon juice for tartness, fresh basil for an herby flavor, and celery for crunch. Olive oil replaces heavy, and often processed, mayonnaise. Season the mixture generously with salt and pepper, and youve got a fresh tuna salad with a twist. You wont miss the mayo!
Growing up I would take a brown bag lunch to school, and I always looked forward to my moms tuna sandwich on white bread with mayo. Now that I have my own kitchen, I often make tuna salad to add a protein boost to my lunch. Over the years I came up with a lighter, more Mediterranean-style preparation to change things up. I still love Moms mayonnaise tuna salad, but this version is equally crave-worthy in its own way.
This tuna salad works great with a Mediterranean diet, or for those who are going low carb. I like to serve it on top of a kale salad, or as an open-faced sandwich on whole grain or pumpernickel toast. Spread a piece of bread with a thin layer of hummus, then top with lettuce, tomato, and tuna salad. Oh the possibilities!
Ditch the mayo for a lighter, fresher take on tuna. Super filling, heart healthy and so tasty! Your body and your taste buds will both say thank you.
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Making Tuna Salad Healthier
One of the best ways to make tuna salad healthier is by using less mayonnaise. First off, you can swap out the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or light sour cream. The result will be a lighter tuna salad that is still just as creamy!
Second, add veggies like celery and carrots for some color and crunchy texture. Fresh fruit like grapes and apples add texture and natural sugars. Lastly, top it off with fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro! Youll still have that classic taste you know and love but itll be a lot better for you too
The Best Mayo For Tuna Salad According To Experts
Whether it delights or disgusts you, mayonnaise is the white goo that holds together many of our beloved dishes: potato salad, macaroni salad, deviled eggs, Emily Marikos salmon rice bowl and tuna salad for sandwiches.
Even though the essential ingredients in various mayo brands are the same, not all versions are alike. Some mayos are eggy and umami-rich, like the famous Japanese brand Kewpie, while other brands are rich and tangy, like Dukes.
When it comes to making a classic lunch staple like tuna salad, is there one mayo that does the job better than the rest? HuffPost interviewed four chefs and a food scientist to settle the debate.
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How To Store Tuna Salad
- Serve: Tuna Salad is traditionally served cold and it has mayonnaise in it, so it shouldnt stay out for longer than 2 hours or it will go bad.
- Store: The salad will keep for about 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
- Freeze: The mayonnaise will prevent the salad from freezing and defrosting well, so dont bother. Toss it and make a new batch!
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Does This Tuna Salad Recipe Use Mayonnaise
This tuna salad does not use any mayonnaise. Its a simple and wholesome substitue that doesnt require any fancy maneuvering on your part. We will use lemon juice, olive oil, and seasonings along with some avocado to make this a creamy recipe without any added calories, fat, or unhealthy ingredients.
If you are like me and sometimes just really hate mayonnaise, this is a great option because you dont have to come up with a way to swap out the mayo. Its just not there to begin with, makes things nice and easy if you are or have picky eaters in the house.
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How To Make Tuna Salad
Tuna salad is so easy and requires very little prep.
I like to serve tuna salad sandwiches with lettuce and tomato on whole wheat bread or a darker loaf like rye. Its also delicious on croissants like a shrimp salad!
Lighten It Up a Little
If youd like to cut some of the calories, replace some of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. It will have a slightly more tangy flavor but still, just as tasty!
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.
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Chicken Salad No Mayo Greek Yogurt
What should I make for dinner tonight? This might just be the number one question that we ask ourselves almost daily over here.
Then you have come to the right place, we have rounded up 15 chicken salad no mayo greek yogurt that we have shared over the years.
Plus, there is such a variety of flavours in these recipes, so you are sure to find something for you. Most of these recipes are quick and easy ones made especially for busy weeknights.
More Tuna Salad Ideas
- Egg: Growing up, my mom would often make us tuna salad with egg. You can do this by mixing some chopped hard boiled egg into your tuna salad. Its like a tuna salad and egg salad in one, and it is delicious! Plus you get even more satiating protein when you add hard boiled eggs to your tuna sandwich.
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is a classic tuna salad ingredient. It brightens up the flavor of tuna salad.
- Mustard: Do you like your tuna salad with Dijon mustard or yellow mustard? Mustard is another way to add a different flavor dimension to your tuna fish.
- Herbs: Fresh herbs are a great way to change up the flavor of tuna salad. Try parsley, dill or chives.
- Avocado: Avocado can act as a binder and replace the mayo or Greek yogurt in tuna salad. Its a great way to add healthy fat and flavor! Using avocado instead of mayo or Greek yogurt makes dairy-free tuna salad.
- Vegetables: Try adding finely chopped crunchy veggies such as carrots, bell pepper or cucumber for extra crunch and to add more nutrition to your tuna salad.
- Apple: Chopped apple adds a surprisingly delicious sweet twist to this tuna recipe.
- Chickpeas: Either mashed or coarsely chopped, chickpeas can help to stretch your tuna fish so you can use less tuna and get more tuna salad. Chickpeas are a great source of vegetarian protein.
- Capers: Capers add a salty, briny flavor to tuna salad.
- Tuna Melt: Use your tuna salad to make a Tuna Melt, which is basically a grilled cheese sandwich with tuna.
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Why Youll Love This Recipe
- Simplicity: Its my go-to recipe when I need a quick and easy lunch during the workweek.
- Make-Ahead: For best results, make this recipe ahead. Tuna salad is always better after the flavors of the ingredients have time to meld together in the refrigerator overnight.
- Few Ingredients: Just open a can of tuna, drain, chop, and stir all the goodness together.
- Versatility: can be used in a sandwich, wrap, or served as an appetizer on crackers.
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Greek Yogurt Tuna Salad Recipe
Drain tuna and place in a bowl. Add a squirt of dijon mustard and a spoonful of yogurt, in the ratio of about 2 parts yogurt to 1 part mustard. Drizzle a little balsamic vinaigrette on top .
Next, add the chopped celery and broccoli slaw and mix it all up.
If youre ready to eat it now, heat or toast a pita and place the tuna mixture inside. .
Add a few crumbles of feta cheese on top, and then cover with a huge handful of spinach.
Lastly, close it up!
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How To Serve Tuna Salad
- Tuna Salad goes great on toasted bread. This way the bread holds up better and doesnt get too soft with the moisture from the tuna and mayo.
- You can serve Tuna Salad on top of salad greens, and its especially good with tomato slices and extra wedges of lemon for flavor and pops of color on the tray.
- Hollow out tomatoes and serve tuna inside for an easy brunch recipe that looks like you spent forever making it.
- Serve tuna salad topped with fresh dill, parsley, or chopped green onions.
- Hollow out an avocado and add to the tuna salad, then serve inside of the avocado shell.
How Do You Make The Lazy No
Its as simple as adding everything to your bowl and mixing it up! While its super easy, I do have a couple tips to make it go a little smoother:
- Use a fork to completely flake up the tuna before adding the rest of the ingredients. It helps with the final texture of the tuna salad. Quick and easy step that makes a difference!
- Use minimum amounts and then add more to taste first time I made this I dumped on the garlic. This recipe only makes 3 servings so its easy to over do it on the spices! Same with mayo. If you need more mayo, add it later so you dont accidentally add too much.
- Draining the relish it works well enough to push the spoon against the side of the jar to remove as much liquid as you can. No need to dirty a strainer for the small amount of relish.
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Mix The Tuna Dijon And Mayo
Add the tuna into a small bowl, flaking it with a fork. Then, add the Dijon mustard and mayonnaise. We recommend using a chunk light tuna the kind found in the aluminum pouch or the can. But feel free to use any other type of cooked tuna you would like, such as wild caught, albacore, or yellowfin.
Recipe Tips + Additions
Here are a few tips along with ideas to change it up.
- Tuna: Use any type of tuna as long as it is packed in water. This will result in the best and freshest taste.
- To avoid an overall mushy sandwich, consider spooning the tuna salad on toasted pieces of bread. That way the extra moisture from the tuna salad doesnt soak through the bread.
- For a healthier version, use plain yogurt instead of sour cream and serve it in lettuce wraps rather than between pieces of bread. This will cut down on fat and carbs!
- Or use mashed avocado instead of mayonnaise in order to use a healthier fat.
Additions: You can add dried fruit like cranberries, or for more crunch try adding chopped apples, celery, cucumbers, and/or red onion.
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Mayo Substitutes In Tuna Salad
Households who want to prepare tuna salad at home will find that most of the formulas offered do so with mayonnaise. However, its possible that you dont have mayo on hand or that youve just run out of it, in which case youll need to make a change in your recipe.
As a result, this article will now move on to recommend several appropriate and high-quality mayo alternatives for your recipe. One thing to keep in mind when picking a substitute is that you want one that will mix well with the other ingredients in your recipe and help you achieve the mayonnaise effect in your tuna salad.
By: Author Jessica Blythe
Mayonnaise is probably one of the most basic ingredients in the kitchen. It is commonly used in burgers, sandwiches, and salads. Aside from that, it is also used in sauces and dips.
I personally love using mayonnaise on tuna salads which makes them tastier. However, the problem comes when one of my family members has an allergy or should I say food intolerance to mayonnaise. Luckily after some in-depth research, I am able to come out with a comprehensive mayo substitute list for tuna salad.
- Plain Greek Yogurt
Whether you are laying off the mayo due to dietary restrictions or allergies, read on if you are keen to find out in detail what can be used to replace the tasty mayo in your tuna salad.
How To Reheat Prepared Tuna Salad:
This recipe can be served cold on a sandwich or lettuce wrap. If you want it hot, my best recommendation is to make a tuna melt! This can be made on the stovetop or in the air fryer. Check out my Air Fryer Tuna Melt recipe.
Did you make this? I want to see how it turned out! Tag me in your social media post @projectmealplan and use #projectmealplan when you share!
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How Does Martha Stewart Make Chicken For Chicken Salad
Directions
Here Are Some Kitchen Essentials That I Like To Have On Hand When Making Recipes Like This For Meal Prep:
Making healthy meals is a breeze with these kitchen essentials. Keeping things like this on hand makes my life so much easier in the kitchen.
Some things that are great to have on hand when prepping meals like this is a cutting board, sharp knives, and storage containers.
You can also benefit from a good skillet, a kitchen scale, measuring cups, and this awesome strainer tool!
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Should You Cut Potatoes Before Or After Boiling
I prefer to boil my potatoes whole, then chill in the fridge and cut them after theyve cooled. Its easy to slice through the potatoes and I feel theyre slightly less waterlogged this way.
If you prefer to slice and cube your potatoes first, just remember to reduce the boil time to about 12-15 minutes.
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Best Tuna Salad Recipe
Seriously, no joke, this is the best tuna salad recipe. Its the one my mom, and before that, my grandma has made for years. Its a classic recipe with simple, delicious ingredients. Flaky tuna is mixed with boiled eggs, crisp celery, onions, sweet pickles, and a creamy mayo dressing. Perfect for sandwiches or creamy tuna melts with some potato chips on the side!
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, theres no complicated methods or ingredients needed. And meal preps a cinch. I often make a batch of this salad on Sunday to enjoy for a meal and 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 wraps for a fancy dish!
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