# So how do you make your tuna salad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631 "2010-12-10T05:19:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/21 "2010-12-10T15:17:03Z")
I do two, as well, only I think of them as “fancy” and “nonfancy”. Nonfancy is what we had when I was a kid: water packed tuna, mayo and sweet pickle relish. Especially good as a tuna melt with a slice of American cheese food like product. Fancy tuna salad varies, but generally has really finely minced scallions or onions (I prefer red, but yellow is okay in a pinch) and mayo, with additions depending on what I have on hand. Dried cranberries are a favorite of mine. Pecans are great. Diced red or yellow bell peppers may make an appearance. Hard boiled egg often joins the party, if I remember to make the salad well before I need it and the eggs have time to cool. Celery salt hangs out with hard boiled eggs, so if the eggs are there, the celery salt will be, too. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice is often welcome. Fancy tuna salad is particularly good served in a seeded red bell pepper half. > [@missred](#): > > I’ve been known to make fish salad subbing whatever leftover broiled or poached fish from the night before in either of these. :smack: I never, ever thought of this. Leftover fish is the one leftover that always goes to waste in our house because it’s so easy to overcook it when reheating it. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/22 "2010-12-10T15:19:40Z")
I’ve had what you guys are describing, but ideally a tuna salad is like a steak salad, substituting Ahi tuna lightly seared for the steak. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/23 "2010-12-10T15:21:20Z")
Water-packed chunk tuna (well drained), chopped sweet midget pickles, lowfat Greek yogurt. If I’ve got some fresh dill, I chop some of that into it, too. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/24 "2010-12-10T15:22:16Z")
I like it simple. Tuna. Mayo. Dab of relish, and I’m talking about a _dab_; no giant spoonful, just enough to get the slightest bit of flavor into it. Apply to bread or Club crackers. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/25 "2010-12-10T16:12:37Z")
Solid white in water, Hellman’s, lemon juice, celery, onion, salt, pepper, dill (optional). Squeeze almost all the water out first. Refrigerate to let flavors combine. Pickles, relish, & Miracle Whip are verbotten, but egg is OK once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/26 "2010-12-10T16:19:04Z")
Water packed, Hellman’s mayo (possibly enough to drown the fish) and chopped celery. Now that I’m older and my palate has matured, I add a dash of salt and fresh ground pepper. I never realized that my tuna salad was so pedestrian. I honestly thought this is how everyone did it! ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/27 "2010-12-10T16:26:33Z")
Four ingredients: Water packed tuna Olive oil mayo Diced apples (I prefer fuji or granny smith) Macaroni noodles Now I’m gonna have to make some this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/28 "2010-12-10T16:35:51Z")
Mayo, shredded lettuce, carrot peels and sweet relish. Then put on one slice of medium toasted white bread (cheaper the bread, the better). That is my all time favorite lunch option. ---
**Author:** ![Mllz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Mllz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mllz)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/29 "2010-12-10T16:57:57Z")
I stopped using mayo altogether about a year ago. Now, it’s: [ul] [li]Solid white tuna[/li][li]olive oil[/li][li]balsalmic vinegar[/li][li]red onion[/li][li]crushed red pepper[/li][li]salt/pepper/paprika[/li][/ul] Almost always converted into a tuna melt panini, with sharp cheddar and dill pickles on ciabatta bread. No turning back on the mayo thing for me at this point, so I don’t really enjoy _other people’s_ tuna any more. Which is fine, since those heathens probably tried to infect it with that loathesome devilpepper known as “celery” anyways. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/30 "2010-12-10T17:00:32Z")
I make it differently depending on my mood. I experiment too. Traditionally Mom made it with Helman’s and sweet pickles and pickle juice. I make it that way sometimes. Sometimes I use Helman’s, honey mustard, bacon bits. Sometimes I use Helman’s, onion salt and dried garlic. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/31 "2010-12-10T18:34:02Z")
Carraway seeds are a nice addition. I try and switch it up. I’m the only one in my house who will eat canned tuna so I only make one can’s worth at a time. I think I’ll be trying something with curry next. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/32 "2010-12-10T18:38:41Z")
Chunk light packed in water. Finely chopped white onion, probably more onion than most people would like. Hellmans Mayonnaise. A little red wine vinegar and oregano. Fresh ground black pepper. Yummy! ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/33 "2010-12-10T21:05:46Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Water-pack tuna, drained > 0 % fat yogurt > diced apple > raisins > diced scallions or onions > curry powder > > mush to a pudding-like consistency Thank you for participating and please don’t be offended if I never eat tuna salad at your house. 🙂 (apples, raisins, curry and fish…no. Just…no.) ---
**Author:** ![rostfrei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@rostfrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rostfrei)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/34 "2010-12-10T21:26:56Z")
One or two cans of Trader Joe’s albacore packed in olive oil, drained. Mayo, cracked pepper, chopped up hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped celery, chopped onion, and sometimes capers, if i have them. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/35 "2010-12-10T21:34:37Z")
Water packed tuna, hard-boiled eggs, and Miracle Whip. Just like my elementary school cafeteria 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Conqueror\_Worm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@The\_Conqueror\_Worm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Conqueror_Worm)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/36 "2010-12-10T21:57:04Z")
Tuna (usually water), mayo, diced onion and a squeeze of sri racha = spicy tuna salad sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/37 "2010-12-10T23:20:35Z")
Just a jar of Italian mixed beans and tinned tuna fillets. Some fresh chopped red onion, parsley and chili. Sometimes a squeeze of lemon juice. And toasted ciabatta to pile it on. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/38 "2010-12-11T01:22:39Z")
I’m getting tired of hard-boiled eggs showing up in everything that involves mayo/Miracle Whip and has a name that ends in “salad” all of a sudden. They’re OK in potato salad, more or less. Tuna salad? Chicken salad? Not hardly. Usually my tuna salad is really basic: tuna, mayo or Miracle Whip, celery, onion. I’ll have to try capers. Ninety nine times out of a hundred, my tuna salad goes in a grilled sandwich with swiss, and soup on the side. I don’t want it to be too busy. ---
**Author:** ![davey77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@davey77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davey77)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/39 "2010-12-11T06:18:37Z")
Everyone’s recipes sound pretty good to me (except Miracle Whippers, sorry). Best idea I can add is to try Polar brand tuna packed in water. You can drain it and see real fish in the can! No, really, it looks like there is real fish in there and there is! ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631/40 "2010-12-11T10:36:31Z")
> [@davey77](#): > > Everyone’s recipes sound pretty good to me (except Miracle Whippers, sorry). Best idea I can add is to try Polar brand tuna packed in water. You can drain it and see real fish in the can! No, really, it looks like there is real fish in there and there is! That’s not good… if I hadn’t grown up eating it, the thought of taking cold fish and mixing it with mayo, etc. would completely freak me out. I’m very touchy about fish. So I think of tuna as…tuna. It’s not fish. It’s…tuna. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-make-your-tuna-salad/563631.md?page=3)