
Thai Tuna Salad
Canned tuna is definitely one of those ingredients that tend to get overlooked.
However, during this pandemic, I feel like tuna is getting a new take on life and is SHINING! A lot of people are trying to figure out how to make tasty and easy recipes with their canned tuna and this Thai tuna salad, one of my oldest yet trustiest recipes, is here to help!

This Thai tuna salad recipe was posted on my blog years ago and its origination was from this cafe near my office. The cafe calls it Thai tuna salad so I didn’t change the name of it.
When my coworker introduced me to it, I was kind of skeptical. I didn’t think it’d be that good. She told me that I “have to try it” and ever since I got it, I realized that it is so.freaking.addicting.
Unfortunately, this cafe closed and now I’m not able to have my Thai tuna salads from there anymore but thank goodness I recreated it and now I can have it whenever I want at home!

I made a huge batch of this and I put it atop crostini but there’s a multitude of ways to serve Thai tuna salad. You can serve this over a bed of lettuce or spinach leaves or you can serve this atop cucumber slices as mini appetizers for a party or even on beds of endive or celery sticks.
Or, you could make a sandwich with it – kind of like a tuna melt. Or you can use butter crackers and kind of eat this like a dip.
I have also eaten this straight like this as a meal. It’s really versatile and it is full of sesame flavor. The cucumbers, peppers, and red onions just play so well with the tuna and sesame oil. It’s a fairly light dish but it’s so filling because of all the protein you get from the tuna. Omega 3’s anyone?

Other canned tuna recipes to try:
Mediterranean tuna white bean salad

Thai Tuna Salad
Servings are adjustable but please note that results, timing, and cookware may vary when adjusting servings.
Ingredients
- 3: 70 gram cans of tuna, drained
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 1 cucumber, sliced thinly and diced
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Sesame seeds, as garnish
Instructions
- In a large bowl, break up the tuna into smaller pieces.
- Mix in the red bell pepper, red onion, and cucumber. Pour the sesame oil on top and stir to combine everything. Lastly add the juice of 1 lime and stir again to combine.
- Salt and pepper to taste and garnish with sesame seeds before serving.
Notes
Photography by Ari Laing
Tina
Sunday 1st of November 2020
I have made this several times. I use regular tuna, added jalapeño and cilantro. I’ve also used celery when I didn’t have cucumbers. Our whole family loves it. This is delicious and versatile!!
Tiffany
Wednesday 29th of April 2020
This is a recipe that you will cook over and over again- basic but with flair and loads of flavor.
Melissa
Tuesday 25th of February 2020
This was really great, I'm so sad somebody only gave it 2 stars and now that is what google shows. It was easy, tasty, and went a long way towards powering my afternoon.
Ian sharples
Monday 14th of January 2019
Hi tried the recipe thought the amount seasame oil was to overpowering i would personally put two table spoons i n. Cheers
Porter
Tuesday 9th of October 2018
Firstly a confession....I have a slight addiction to Amazon.com warehouse discounted items. With that in mind, I recently purchased a small container of Thai Shrimp paste for $2.50. Prior to the purchase my mind was all a buz with recipe ideas, now that it’s here, (along with 16 cans of tuna, 2 bottles of dihydraded onions, curry powder, and a container of cumin ) My mind has simply shut down.... I’m thinking a Thai curry tuna salad....?
Julie
Wednesday 10th of October 2018
That sounds pretty good!