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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
Ingredients
- 70 grams canned tuna, drained
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- ½ 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
Nutrition
Photography by Ari Laing
Aaaand, why have I never thought to jazz up my tuna like this before? This looks so delicious, Julie! Love all your additions. I might even spice it up with some sriracha. Thanks for sharing!
Yum! I’m always looking for new tuna salad recipes. I need to try this one out!
Love the flavours in this!
LOVE this. I’m having tuna salad today, it’s a staple, but mine definitely needs some thai action!
I was thinking I wanted tuna salad for lunch (is that gross when you’re still drinking your coffee at 10am?) and then you posted this! Done…being made today. :)
OMG you have me laughing so hard!! I am the EXACT same way when I go out to eat…scared to be disappointed so I always order the same thing at each place and then wonder if Im missing out on something great…but again, what if its not good?! Its an awful habit! haha
P.S. I am always looking for new ways to eat tuna!! This one is already in my lunch rotation this week! Fab.u.lous job!
Ooooo, I would totally love this! Looks perfect!
Julie. This is everything I’ve ever hoped for & more. My life is now complete.
Great twist on a classic!
I love Thai & I love tuna salad so I will have to make this ASAP! & I’m totally the exact same as you when it comes to ordering something new at a restaurant!