# Help me jazz up my tuna salad **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 8, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250 "2008-12-08T15:33:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/1 "2008-12-08T15:33:03Z")
I love tuna sandwiches and have been eating them a lot lately. I have a very basic tuna salad recipe that just involves a little mayo and a spoonful or two of sweet relish. I’ve been making it this way since I was very young and I’m thinking it’s about time to try out some new ideas. I figure I’d come here, list what I have in my pantry/fridge and see what everyone here might suggest I do… Ok, so here’s what I have on hand that seem relevant… Mayo Worcestershire sauce Soy Mustard (yellow) Red pepper flakes Old Bay Seasoning (garlic) An onion Celery (I already plan on using this in my next attempt) Hardboiled egg Sweet relish Dill pickles Ok, I think that about does it… If there’s a must-have ingrediant that I should go pick up, I can do that… I just wanted to try and use what I had on hand. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/2 "2008-12-08T15:48:13Z")
I put curry powder, green onion and apple bits in mine, with a little no-fat yogurt (instead of mayo). ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/3 "2008-12-08T16:02:26Z")
Any of the things you mention could work. I mostly came in, though, to say that your request reminded me of this bit from the Onion: > **[The Onion | America's Finest News Source.](https://www.theonion.com/?utm_source=onion_rss_daily)** > > The Onion brings you all of the latest news, stories, photos, videos and more from America's finest news source. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/4 "2008-12-08T16:29:29Z")
Dried or fresh thyme leaves are nice, as is _herbes de provence_. And a squeeze of lemon juice. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/5 "2008-12-08T16:31:30Z")
Curry powder, capers, horseradish… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/6 "2008-12-08T16:46:56Z")
garlic powder vinegar (just a couple of drops) hard-boiled egg The above is my personal recipe for tuna salad, with the tuna and mayo (MAYO, not Miracle Whip (or as we call it here, the Devil’s Semen)). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/7 "2008-12-08T16:48:13Z")
Thyme is essential. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/8 "2008-12-08T16:50:38Z")
Mayo, fresh black pepper and lemon juice- much simpler. Pickles to add crunch, along with celery if you must pad it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/9 "2008-12-08T16:50:54Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Thyme is essential. Parsley, sage and rosemary are, however, optional… ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/10 "2008-12-08T21:37:15Z")
I can’t eat it any longer, but my favorite tuna (or chicken) salad was always a little bit of mayo, a smaller amount of yellow mustard, and diced banana peppers. God, I miss banana peppers. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/11 "2008-12-08T21:45:53Z")
Red pepper flakes, a dash of pickle juice along with the relish, and maybe a dash of Tiger Sauce. Don’t mess with the tuna salad, mess with the condiments on the sandwich! Try hot mustard and horseradish one day, then something else the next. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/12 "2008-12-08T21:59:28Z")
Two words: Green Apple. I like a lot of different tuna salads, but hands down the best I have ever had was made with minced green apple. The apple gives the whole situation a sweet/tart/crunchy goodness that is fantastic. Give it a try with a slightly simple list of other ingredients. I like cayan pepper (optional, but I put cayan in damn near everything, you can use red pepper flakes in a pinch but get yourself some cayan) black pepper salt mayo mustard green apple pickles squeeze of lemon Freakin good stuff. A little celery would probably be good too, but my wife hates the stuff so I haven’t given it a try yet. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/13 "2008-12-08T23:06:05Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Dried or fresh thyme leaves are nice, as is _herbes de provence_. And a squeeze of lemon juice. Yep! I’ve got three basic recipes: 1. Tuna and mayo and maybe a couple other things like pickles or celery, but maybe just tuna and mayo. This is my regression-to-childhood comfort food salad. 2. Tuna and lemon juice and olive oil and herbs and black pepper, maybe with good olives. This tastes all sophistimucated and stuff. It’s summery and good. 3. Tuna and olive oil and a nice dash of Sriracha (hot cock) sauce and a clove of crushed garlic and a dash of curry powder. This is based on a recipe from Chapel Hill’s excellent Skylight Exchange: they call it African Tuna, and I used to order it every time I went there. It’s great as a tuna melt or with (really) peanut butter. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/14 "2008-12-08T23:09:22Z")
> [@HelloNinja](#): > > Help me jazz up my tuna salad. > > Any suggestions? A good saxophone solo, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/15 "2008-12-08T23:21:37Z")
Capers and anchovies. You don’t need a lot of anchovies, but just a tiny little bit will amp up the flavor without being overbearing (actually, your Worcestershire sauce has anchovies in it already, but I would skip Worcestershire in tuna salad in favor of controlling the flavor myself with anchovies. Worcester has a tendency to overpower foods quickly.) My standard tuna salad starts with good, oil-packed tuna, EVOO, balsamic vinegar, capers, anchovies, and goes from there. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/16 "2008-12-08T23:28:03Z")
Mayo Prepared horseradish Capers Onion powder Garlic powder Lemon juice Or, my other, dirt simple version: Fresh, rough cracked black pepper and rice vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Cream\_Conquest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@Ice\_Cream\_Conquest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Cream_Conquest)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/17 "2008-12-09T00:14:47Z")
This is my favorite “standard” tuna salad: 2 (6 ounce) cans solid white tuna packed in water 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 stalk celery, minced (about 1/4 cup) 2 tablespoons red onions, minced 2 tablespoons dill pickles or sweet gherkins, minced 1/2 clove garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1/8 tsp.) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves, minced 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard Two points: 1. The tuna should be well-drained. It ends up runny if you leave any water from the tuna. You might use a collander instead of draining from the can. 2. Yes, that’s the right amount of lemon juice. Try it. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/18 "2008-12-09T00:38:33Z")
I sometimes make mine like this: Tuna Mayo Honey Mustard Bacon Bits (real bacon if possible) Whatever mild cheese I have on hand Heated (preferably grilled, but microwaved when I’m feeling lazy.) ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/19 "2008-12-09T01:55:54Z")
From what you have on-hand, definitely the celery, onion, and boiled eggs. One ingredient not mentioned yet - Pineapple! Yum, yum, yummy yum. Don’t knock it 'till you try it - Tuna, Mayo, celery, onion, a little cayenne pepper, and pineapple. Spicy and sweet, my favorite combo. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250/20 "2008-12-09T02:38:02Z")
I’ll second the chopped apple. I’ve never been specific about red or green, but I do know that chopped apple in tuna salad is wonderful! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-jazz-up-my-tuna-salad/476250.md?page=2)