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It’s back!
After a summer peppered with vacations to the beach / cabin / red rocks, popsicles and cereal flavored milkshakes, far more thunderstorms than I ever remember a summer possibly possessing and not nearly enough time spent weeding my garden (thank you for doing so, my #1 rock star dad!), just like that, we’re shocked back to reality and the routine of school days once that dang alarm goes off.
I, for one, am embracing it.
We’ve hit Target for new pencils, anitbacterial wipes and college ruled composition books. She chose her new outfit for the first day (denim on denim, how chic!) and I somehow got her to let me curl her hair, sort of.We took the requisite first day photo with her two babies and marveled at how in the heck she could have grown this much in just one year!
Then it was off to school where watched with the rest of the hovering parents as she immediately forgot us, as if we merely existed to be her estranged support system in her stratosphere of gal pals and those boys she totally doesn’t like ;).
Overheard…
Dad #1 to Dad #2 with a joking, knowing smile: “So…You remember the first day of 5th grade when your dad was watching you get in line to go inside for your first day of school, don’t you?”
Dad #2: “I don’t think my dad even knew where my school was until he came to my graduation.”
Dad #1: “Ha. Yeah. Me neither.”
Times have changed. And I adore that my husband adores her, and is as completely engrossed with our smudge of love as I am.
So now that Smudge is back in her school-going-routine, it’s time for me to get back into mine. No more cheeseburgers on road trips or mid-morning out-to-eat-brunches with a side of buttery fried potatoes. We’re back in the saddle with fresh, wholesome fare.
This salad bridges the lunch gap of one of my favorite childhood sandwiches—the humble tuna fish sandwich—and my love of dressed up greens.
It’s not a complicated salad by any means and can easily be adapted to your tastes. Go ahead. Make it yours.
About the salad:
It takes a handful of lettuces—let what’s in your refrigerator or garden be your guide. This time around leafy greens and baby spinach were the lucky, chosen ones.
A handful of fresh, juicy strawberries sliced just right with ripe chunks of creamy avocado are offset with varying degrees of chopped, salty roasted almonds for bit of bite.
Chunk white tuna in water gives a mild dose of protein and seems to be one of my salad-add-in-staples because there’s always a can or two in the pantry. I used greek yogurt to bind it all together but you can use mayonnaise instead if that’s your game.
The salad dressing is my favorite part. A sweetened rice vinegar dressing with whole mustard seeded mustard. It’s divine.
The final touch is a sprinkling of fresh mint leaves. Tarragon is another favorite and complements the sweet and salty flavors just right.
While I didn’t this time, if you’re craving cheese, a tangy feta or thin slices of ricotta salata would marry these flavors well.
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Ingredients
For the Tuna Salad
- 1 5 ounce can albacore tuna packed in water drained
- 1 green onion stemmed and chopped
- 1-2 tablespoons capers chopped
- ¼ cup plain greek yogurt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon dill
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Mustard Dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon seasoned rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon whole grain mustard
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Drizzle of honey to taste
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Salad
- 2-3 cups fresh green leafy lettuces or spinach
- ½ cup tuna salad
- 4-5 strawberries cored and sliced
- ½ avocado peeled and cut into chunks
- 1-2 tablespoons smoked almonds coarsely chopped
- fresh mint leaves
Instructions
For the Salad
Layer the lettuce leaves in a bowl or plate and top with the tuna salad, sliced strawberries, avocado and smoke almonds. Drizzle with the mustard dressing and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.
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FAQs
Ingredients
- 12 ounces good-quality tuna, packed in oil, drained.
- 2 stalks celery, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced.
- 1 apple, such as McIntosh or Gala, peeled, cored, and cut into ¼-inch pieces.
- 3 tablespoons light mayonnaise, preferably Ojai Cook's Lemonaise Light.
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil leaves.
The highest-quality tuna is bought fresh from the market or fishmonger, so some restaurants process and cook fresh tuna before incorporating it into the tuna salad. Although time-consuming and expensive, many chefs prefer this approach.
How to make tuna salad thicker? ›
Ingredients that remedy watery tuna
They advise using 4-5 boiled eggs, but you can adjust the numbers based on the amount of tuna salad you're making. In addition to boiled eggs, Julie's Cafe Bakery says that further means of fixing watery tuna salad are to include either potato, croutons, or pasta.
Why is my tuna salad soggy? ›
Whether the tuna wasn't drained well enough, or the veggies weren't thoroughly dried after you washed them and the water ended up in the salad, or overly juicy pickles are possibly the culprit -- whatever the soggy cause may be, the best way to fix watery tuna salad is by adding a dry ingredient that can absorb the ...
How do you make Paula Deen's tuna salad? ›
Directions. In a mixing bowl, combine the tuna, eggs, mayonnaise, lemon juice, chives, celery, relish, and onion. Season the salad with a big pinch of salt and pepper and stir to combine. Serve on a bed of salad greens or on toasted bread, if you like.
Is Miracle Whip better than mayo for tuna? ›
More viscous or fluid products may cause a more 'wet' tuna salad.” Less popular for tuna salad among our experts but still mayo MVPs, Kewpie and Miracle Whip both have distinct flavors that don't work as well with tuna, one more savory (Kewpie) and one sweeter (Miracle Whip).
Which tastes better, tuna in oil or water? ›
In the end, it comes down to taste: Tuna packed in water will be more neutral and, well, watery, while olive oil will have some peppery richness that can complement that tuna.
Is tuna salad healthier than chicken salad? ›
Canned tuna is healthy: an entire five-ounce can of tuna in water (which has about 40 mg cholesterol), mixed with 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise (which has about 12 mg), still has less than half as much cholesterol as a single serving of plain chicken breast.
How to make tuna less boring? ›
If you're not interested in a formal recipe, you can bring a can of tuna to life using this simple formula: Simply swap your regular mayo for a combo of mustard and Greek yogurt and use a fork to mix it with your tuna. Next, throw in any salty (capers or chopped pickles, anyone?) or sweet (grapes, perhaps?)
How to fix too much mayo in tuna salad? ›
Don't fret. Simply add fresh breadcrumbs by rubbing two halves of sliced bread together. You may also add store-bought PLAIN breadcrumbs until you have the right consistency for your salad. Have you ever added too much mayonnaise to your tuna when making tuna salad?
Fresh lemon juice: Brings acidity and brightness to balance the richness of the mayonnaise and tuna. Dijon mustard: Adds tanginess and depth, contributing a subtle sharpness that pairs well with the creamy elements. Sweet pickle relish: Offers sweetness and tanginess, adding complexity and a hint of spice to the salad.
Do you drain canned tuna for tuna salad? ›
If you are using canned tuna packed in water, drain it and add in 1 tablespoon of good-quality extra virgin olive oil. If you are using canned tuna packed in olive oil, you can use as is, without draining it.
How to make mayonnaise Martha Stewart? ›
Directions
- Add yolks, mustard, and lemon juice to food processor: Place egg yolks in a food processor. Add mustard and lemon juice. ...
- Pulse: Pulse ingredients until well combined.
- Add oil: With motor running, add oil in a slow, steady stream (mixture should become thick and emulsified). Season with salt and pepper.
Tuna salad is a light and fresh comfort food classic. Made with a few simple ingredients such as canned tuna, mayonnaise, onion and celery, it's the perfect combination of creamy and crispy. Serve this in a sandwich, wrap it in lettuce, or stuff it in avocado halves for a healthy, throw-together lunch.
What are the ingredients in Save Da Sea tuna salad? ›
Ingredients: young green jackfruit, plant-based mayonnaise (sunflower oil, water, lemon juice and zest, apple cider vinegar, chickpea protein, pea protein isolate, yeast extract, natural flavor, sugars (maple syrup), salt, organic flaxseed oil, beetroot), onion, onion powder, nutritional yeast, black pepper, spices and ...
What to add to tuna instead of mayonnaise? ›
When you're ready to elevate your next lunch or dinner, here are 12 delicious substitutes for mayo in your tuna salad.
- Greek yogurt. Maslova Valentina/Shutterstock. ...
- Avocado. Irina Rostokina/Shutterstock. ...
- Hummus. Tempura/Getty Images. ...
- Olive oil. Maryia_K/Shutterstock. ...
- Dijon mustard. ...
- Ranch dressing. ...
- Sour cream. ...
- Cottage cheese.
