Tuna salad It’s a classic for a reason. It’s light and fresh, deliciously retro, and has been making midday meals simple for decades. My version adds Greek yogurt for a tangy kick (and extra protein!), dill pickles for a crunchy, spicy kick, and grainy mustard for a kick. Forget boring, sticky, bland tuna salads. This one is lively and refreshing. You’ll love it!
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Why You’ll Love This Easy Tuna Salad Recipe
- The perfect balance of texturesIn tuna salad, texture is just as important as flavor. This is a dish we love for the contrast between the meaty tuna, the creamy dressing, the crunchy celery and the crunchy pickles.
- A classic, but betterAs for flavor, this is your classic tuna salad recipe, but a little more elaborate. It has the flavor you love (and expect), but it’s brighter, fresher, and more lively. The best tuna salad ever? I think so!
- Ideal for preparing mealsThe problem with prepared lunches is that they can become repetitive and boring. Tuna salad is the solution because, just like Chicken salad with Greek yogurt and he saladOnce you make it, you can serve it in so many different ways, it never goes out of style!
How to make tuna salad
The ingredients
- Tuna packed in water. I always use sustainably caught solid tuna.
- Greek yogurtIf you’re a purist, you can use mayo, but I love the tangy flavor (and added protein) of plain Greek yogurt.
- Celery and onionBoth provide a crunchy touch, the celery provides a fresh flavor and the onion provides a spicy touch.
- Pickled gherkinsSome recipes call for seasoning, but I prefer chopped pickles because they also add texture to the tuna salad.
- Lemon juiceAlways freshly squeezed, with a brighter flavor than bottled.
- MustardDijon and grainy mustard, or just use Dijon. Mustard adds a rich flavor that enhances the flavor of the dressing and keeps it from fading.
- Herbs. Fresh parsley, tarragon or dill.
The addresses
- Prepare the tunaDrain and crumble into a bowl.
- Add the remaining ingredientsAll in the bowl!
- RemoveI like to use a fork.
- FinishSeason to taste and serve. ENJOY!
Recipe variations
- Add eggsIf you like tuna salad with egg, add a diced hard-boiled egg (or Hard boiled eggs in air fryer) in the salad with the rest of the ingredients.
- Swap pickles for condimentsIf you prefer relish over pickles, you can substitute them or use both.
- Add avocadoDiced avocado is a delicious addition to tuna salad, but be careful: it won’t work if you’re preparing it for lunch because the avocado will brown during storage.
- Try capers instead of picklesThey are another way to introduce an acidic and salty flavor into tuna salad.
- Make it with pastaTry this Tuna Pasta Salad.
How to serve tuna salad
- Wrapped in lettuceToss tuna salad with Bibb or Boston lettuce for a low-carb lunch.
- About the greens. Or simply place the lettuce on a plate and serve a spoonful of tuna salad on top.
- With breadAdd tuna salad to toast, make a sandwich, or try a Melted tuna.
- CookiesUse the salad as a dip to accompany your favorite crackers.
- Tortillas or PitasPlace tuna in pita bread or roll it into a burrito-style tortilla.
- In other vegetablesServe the salad inside halved red peppers, tomatoes, or avocados (technically, I suppose these are all fruits, but the details are very important).
Tips and tricks for preparing recipes
- Make sure your lettuce is dryWhether you’re spooning the tuna over lettuce or a bed of greens, you want to make sure there aren’t any water droplets clinging to the leaves. Wet lettuce makes for messy lettuce wraps, and extra liquid will dilute the creamy dressing, making it less tasty.
- Chill before servingFirst, I think tuna salad tastes best cold. Second, letting the salad sit in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes gives the flavors a little time to blend and meld.
- Give it your personal touchThis is one of those recipes that everyone has their own way of preparing. Feel free to use my recipe as a base to add your favorite ingredients and modify it to your liking.
- Don’t put it in the microwave at the officeYour coworkers will thank you.
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- 2 5-ounce cans of solid tuna packed in water, drained Look for sustainably caught fish
- ½ cup plain greek yogurt fat free or low fat
- 2 small celery stalks ¼-inch dice, about ⅓ cup
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped pickled gherkins
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon additional grainy mustard or Dijon
- 2 tablespoons Chopped fresh parsley tarragon or dill
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt More additional to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper More additional to taste
- To serve Whole wheat bread, lettuce leaves, crackers, optional
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Drain the tuna as best you can and flake it into a bowl.
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Top with Greek yogurt, celery, pickles, red onion, lemon juice, mustard, parsley, salt and pepper. Using a fork, stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning to taste. I usually add a few pinches of salt.
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Serve as a sandwich or wrap, use it as a tuna dip, spoon it over green salads, enjoy it as a dip with crackers, or simply eat it straight from the bowl.
- Adapted from me Melted tuna
- TO SAVE:Transfer the tuna salad to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days. I do not recommend freezing this recipe because the fresh vegetables will lose their texture and flavor.
Service: 1(of 2)Calories: 179kcalCarbohydrates: 6gramProtein: 33gramFat: 2gramSaturated fat: 0.4gramPolyunsaturated fat: 0.5gramMonounsaturated fat: 0.3gramTrans fats: 0.01gramCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 888mgPotassium: 510mgFiber: 2gramSugar: 3gramVitamin A: 645International UnionVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 122mgIron: 3mg
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