Tuna Salad Recipe

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This flavorful tuna salad recipe is a delicious new spin on an old classic!  Make a tuna fish sandwich, party appetizers, or lettuce wraps. This healthy recipe comes together in under 15 minutes!

HEALTHY TUNA SALAD INGREDIENTS

These are the fresh, colorful ingredients for this healthy recipe:

• Albacore solid white tuna in water
• Mayonnaise (or reduced fat mayo)
• Yellow mustard
• Apple cider vinegar
• Pink Himalayan salt
• Freshly-ground black pepper
• Orange and/or yellow bell pepper
• Kalamata olives, pitted
• Cherry tomatoes or heirloom medley tomatoes (a colorful mix)
• Red onion
• Kosher dill pickles
• Parmesan cheese
• Fresh dill

PARTY TIP: When serving a crowd, tuna salad on crackers, bruschetta made with skillet roasted tomatoes, and homemade hummus with flatbread crackers will stave off hunger until the main entree is served!

TUNA SALAD SANDWICH

Remember childhood and your favorite tuna salad sandwich wrapped in waxed paper and taken to school in a brown paper bag? This is the grown-up version of that popular lunch-time classic!

TUNA SALAD RECIPE

With fresh ingredients, this easy recipe comes together quickly!

HOW TO MAKE TUNA SALAD

Step by step, here’s how to take this classic recipe to the next level:

• STEP 1: Add drained tuna to a medium bowl. Flake the pieces apart with a fork. Add the chopped veggies and mix. Drizzle vinegar over the top. Add dollops of mayo and mustard.
• STEP 2: With a fork, mix ingredients until well incorporated.
• STEP 3: Add salt and pepper to taste, as well as a handful of shaved Parmesan cheese on top.
• STEP 4: Fold the cheese and spices into the tuna salad mixture. It’s now ready to serve, eat and enjoy!

EXPERT TIPS FOR TUNA SALAD

• HOW TO MAKE TUNA SALAD HEALTHY: Rather than using full-fat mayonnaise, try low-fat mayo, plain yogurt, or hummus.
• HOW TO BRIGHTEN THE FLAVOR: A squeeze of lemon juice will brighten the flavor of this recipe! For a bit more tang, fold in two tablespoons of capers.
• HOW TO ADD MORE CRUNCH: Mix in 1/4 cup diced celery.
• HOW LONG WILL TUNA SALAD STAY FRESH? When refrigerated, the mixture will stay fresh for 3-5 days: store it in a zip-top bag or an air-tight container.
• CAN I FREEZE TUNA SALAD? This is not recommended. It does not freeze well!

TUNA PACKED IN OIL VS TUNA PACKED IN WATER

Tuna is often packed in unsaturated, heart-heathy soybean oil. Although you can drain off the oil and rinse the tuna in water, oil already absorbed into the flakes will not rinse out. When counting calories, tuna packed in water is the better choice; plus it retains more Omega-3s than its oil-packed counterpart!

HOW TO MAKE A TUNA SALAD SANDWICH

Spread the mixture on toasted or un-toasted bread. If desired, add some sprouts or a few leaves of lettuce for a nice crisp crunch! Serve with spears of dill pickles and a side of your favorite chips.

HOW TO MAKE A TUNA MELT

A tuna melt is a beautiful twist on the classic grilled cheese sandwich!

1. Melt a few pats of butter on a hot griddle. Lay two slices of bread over the butter. Flip and toast the pieces of bread until lightly golden. Remove from heat.
2. Transfer one slice of toast to a baking tray. Put a slice of cheddar cheese on top of the toast. Place briefly in a 400-degree F oven just until the cheese has melted. Remove from oven.
3. Spoon tuna salad over the melted cheese. Place the second slice of toast on top.
4. Melt another pat of butter on the griddle. Transfer the tuna melt to the griddle. Grill the sandwich until it’s nicely browned.
5. Cut in half diagonally, serve and enjoy!

EASY TUNA APPETIZERS

Scoop the tuna salad mixture onto individual crackers. Garnish each with a festive feathery sprig of fresh dill. Serve appetizers on a platter or tiered tray.

TUNA SALAD IDEAS

Looking for fresh new ways to enjoy tuna salad? Here are some great ideas:

• TUNA SALAD WITH CAPERS: This is an easy way to take this recipe to the next level! Capers add more delightful tang to this already yummy dish.
• AVOCADO TUNA SALAD: Slice an avocado in half. Remove the pit. Scoop out the flesh of the avocado and add it to a bowl. Mash it with a fork, leaving it slightly chunky. Add the mashed avocado to the tuna mixture. Serve with restaurant-style tortilla chips.
• TUNA STUFFED AVOCADOS: Halve an avocado lengthwise and remove the pit; add a generous scoop of tuna salad to the middle depression of each half. Garnish with fresh sprigs of cilantro.
• TUNA SALAD WITH EGG: Crank up the flavor a few notches by combining this delicious recipe with classic egg salad. The result is a creamy, delightful mixture your whole family will enjoy!
• CLASSIC TUNA SALAD: For a childhood favorite, mix drained and flaked tuna with mayo, mustard, diced pickles or relish, and chopped celery.
• TUNA SALAD WITHOUT MAYO: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Maggi seasoning sauce, and Dijon mustard. Pour the dressing over the tuna and mix well. Add your favorite diced veggies and mix again.
• TUNA SALAD CELERY STICKS: Rinse several stalks of celery. Slice off the dry ends. Cut each stalk in half or in thirds. Spoon tuna salad into the depressions of each piece. These celery sticks are a wonderful, healthy mid-day snack!
• TUNA SALAD LETTUCE WRAP: Place two overlapping leaves of butter lettuce (or romaine lettuce) on a plate. Add a generous scoop of tuna salad to the middle. Enjoy this healthy tuna fish sandwich without bread!

KITCHEN TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE

These beautiful kitchen tools will help you get the job done!

• CUTTING BOARD
• KITCHEN KNIFE
• CAN OPENER
• FLOUR SACK TOWELS
• MIXING BOWLS

RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Did you enjoy this healthy salad? Rate this recipe in the comments below!

Tuna Salad

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★★★★★

5 from 14 reviews

• Author: Denay DeGuzman
• Total Time: 12 Minutes
• Yield: 6 Servings 1x

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Description

This colorful, healthy tuna salad recipe is fresh new spin on an old classic! Enjoy this versatile mixture as a sandwich, lettuce wrap, or as an appetizer with crackers. Make this easy recipe in less than 15 minutes.

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Ingredients

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• 2 12-ounce cans albacore tuna in water, drained
• 1/4 – 1/3 cup mayonnaise (or reduced fat mayo)
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, or more if desired
• 2–1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup orange or yellow bell pepper (or a combo of the two)
• 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
• 1/3 cup cherry tomatoes, gently chopped
• 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup kosher dill pickles, chopped
• Pink Himalayan salt, to taste
• Freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup shaved parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, packed (+ more for garnishing)

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Instructions

1. Transfer drained tuna to a mixing bowl. Use a fork to flake the pieces apart.
2. Add chopped veggies to the bowl. Mix briefly.
3. Add apple cider vinegar, mayo and mustard. Mix well.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Fold in a handful of shaved Parmesan cheese.

Notes

EXPERT TIPS FOR TUNA SALAD

• HOW TO MAKE TUNA SALAD HEALTHY: Rather than using full-fat mayonnaise, try low-fat mayo or plain yogurt.
• TUNA SALAD WITHOUT MAYO: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Maggi seasoning sauce, and Dijon mustard. Pour the dressing over the flaked tuna and mix well. Add your favorite diced veggies.
• HOW LONG WILL TUNA SALAD STAY FRESH? When refrigerated, the mixture will stay fresh for 3-5 days: store it in a zip-top bag or an air-tight container.
• CAN I FREEZE TUNA SALAD? This is not recommended. It does not freeze well!

• Prep Time: 12 Minutes
• Cook Time: 0 Minutes
• Category: Salad
• Method: Mixing Bowl
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: tuna salad, healthy tuna salad, tuna salad sandwich

HEALTHY TUNA SALAD – JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

Do you have a favorite tuna salad recipe? What are your favorite healthy add-ins? Share your thoughts in the comments below!