This Tuna Salad Sandwich will change everything you thought you knew about tuna salad in a sandwich. The secret ingredient in this Canned Oil Tuna Salad is cottage cheese. trust us It works out.
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My parents started making tuna salad sandwiches this way years ago. And in my opinion, this is the best and only way to make a tuna sandwich.
The best canned tuna for tuna salad
To make the best tuna salad sandwich, it helps to start with quality canned tuna. We prefer tuna packed in extra virgin olive oil as the oil intensifies the flavor of the tuna.
Both Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods have excellent canned tuna packaged in olive oil that’s perfect for this tuna salad. The brands we use the most are Wild Planet Albacore Solid Wild Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil.
If you don’t like the oil the tuna is packaged in, you can always drain it and add about a tablespoon of your own high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
If you only have water-packed tuna, drain it and add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. To find the best canned tuna for your taste, you may need to experiment a bit with brands.
This recipe makes enough tuna salad for 1 large sandwich or 2 smaller sandwiches. You can easily double the recipe. Leftover tuna salad will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
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Check out this tuna sandwich recipe
Why cottage cheese works in tuna salad
Cottage cheese might seem like an odd addition to tuna salad, but trust us when we say it’s perfect in this sandwich. It adds more protein as well as creaminess and fullness. You can use fat-free or light cottage cheese if you’re concerned about the extra calories.
Add more vegetables
If you want more veggies in your tuna salad, go for it! Try about 1/4 cup chopped cucumber, red bell pepper, carrot, celery, or even fresh vegetables like spinach or arugula. You may have to add more mayo or cottage cheese to get the consistency you want, but it works!
Swaps and Substitutions
- Do you hate Dijon mustard? Use yellow, stoneground, brown, spicy, or your favorite mustard.
- Don’t have fresh parsley or dill? Use tarragon or any other fresh herb you like.
- Swap out spring onions or yellow or white onions for the red onions.
- Don’t want onions? let her go!
- Don’t have capers? Just add some chopped cucumbers, chopped green olives, or cucumber relish for that extra brine vinegar flavor.
Love a good tuna sandwich? Try these other recipes!
- English Muffin Tuna Melts
- Pan Bagnat (French Tuna Sandwich)
- Tuna Burger with Dill Olive Mayo
- Melt tarragon tuna
- Avocado Tuna Salad
From the editors of Simply Recipes
The best tuna salad sandwich ever
If using water-packed canned tuna, drain and add 1 tablespoon high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
If you’re using canned tuna packaged in olive oil, you can use it that way without draining it. Or, if you don’t like the oil the tuna is packaged in, you can drain it and add back 2 teaspoons of your favorite extra virgin olive oil.
ingredients
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1 (5 or 6 ounces) can Tuna packed in olive oilundrained
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1/3 Cup cottage cheese
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2 tablespoon mayonnaise
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1/4 Cup fine chopped red onion
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1 celery stemfinely chopped
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1 tablespoon capers
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1 tablespoon lemon juice
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A prize or two fresh dillchopped
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2 tablespoon fresh parsleychopped
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1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
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2 slices breadlightly toasted
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saladOptional
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Sliced TomatoesOptional
method
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Combine the ingredients:
In a medium bowl, combine canned tuna, cottage cheese, mayonnaise, red onion, celery, capers, lemon juice, dill, parsley, and Dijon mustard until combined.
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Make the sandwich:
Serve tuna salad on toast, either on its own or sandwiched between two slices of bread with lettuce and tomatoes, if you like. Serve on top of sliced lettuce for a low-carb option.
| nutritional information (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 402 | calories |
| 20g | Fat |
| 21g | carbohydrates |
| 33g | protein |
