Description
A bright, refreshing twist on classic tuna salad—this Zesty Tuna Salad Delight combines tender tuna, crisp celery, savory Dijon, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and a sprinkling of chopped parsley. It’s creamy, tangy, and perfect for sandwiches, wraps, salads, or scooping straight from the bowl for a low-effort, high-flavor meal or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood
- 3 (5 oz) cans tuna in water, drained
Dressing
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise (adjust to taste)
- 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Vegetables & Add-ins
- ½ cup celery, finely diced
- ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp sweet pickle relish
- 1 tsp capers, drained and chopped (optional)
- 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Seasonings
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Flake the Tuna: In a medium bowl, gently flake the drained tuna with a fork until no large chunks remain. This helps the tuna mix evenly with the other ingredients.
- Prepare the Dressing: Add mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice to the bowl with the tuna. Stir together until the mixture is smooth and creamy, ensuring the tuna is fully coated.
- Add Vegetables and Relish: Mix in the diced celery, chopped red onion, sweet pickle relish, capers if using, and chopped parsley. Fold everything together until the veggies are evenly distributed throughout the salad.
- Season: Sprinkle in salt and pepper to your liking. Stir, then taste and add more if needed for a perfect flavor balance.
- Chill (Optional) and Serve: The salad can be served immediately, but for best flavor, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld. Enjoy in sandwiches, wraps, or as a light snack!
Notes
- Chilling the tuna salad melds the flavors beautifully but isn’t strictly necessary if you’re short on time.
- For a lighter version, substitute Greek yogurt for some or all of the mayonnaise.
- Adjust the relish and capers according to your sweetness and briny preferences.
- Great with whole grain bread, lettuce wraps, or stuffed in tomatoes for a low-carb option.
- This salad stores well in the fridge for up to 3 days; stir before serving if it separates.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side-dishes
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: ~290 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 40mg