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A quick, crunchy, and colorful Asian-inspired salad combining canned tuna and fresh vegetables with a zesty sesame-lime dressing, perfect for a light meal or sandwich filling.

  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2-3 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (5 oz/140 g) can tuna packed in water or olive oil, well drained
  • 1 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium carrot, thinly sliced or shredded
  • 1/2 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts or sesame seeds, for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari/coconut aminos for gluten-free)
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Instructions

  1. Drain canned tuna well, pressing or squeezing out as much liquid as possible.
  2. Thinly slice or shred red cabbage, carrot, cucumber, red bell pepper, and green onions.
  3. Chop fresh cilantro and mint (if using).
  4. Place the sliced veggies and drained tuna in a large bowl and toss to combine.
  5. Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey or maple syrup, grated ginger, minced garlic, and lime juice in a small bowl or jar until smooth.
  6. Taste the dressing and adjust flavors with more lime juice, honey/maple syrup, or sesame oil as desired.
  7. Drizzle the dressing over the tuna and vegetable mixture.
  8. Sprinkle roasted peanuts or sesame seeds and chopped herbs over the salad.
  9. Gently toss everything to combine and serve immediately.

Notes

Drain tuna thoroughly to avoid soggy salad., Use a sharp knife or mandoline slicer for even vegetable slices., Fresh herbs brighten the flavor; substitute parsley or basil if preferred over cilantro., Keep dressing separate if storing in advance; combine just before serving to retain crunch., Try protein swaps like grilled tuna, shrimp, shredded chicken, or tofu for variety., Add crunchy toppings such as crispy fried shallots, crispy wonton strips, or crumbled nori for texture., Serve the salad on its own, in lettuce cups, wraps, over steamed rice, or tossed with cold noodles., Store salad and dressing separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator; consume within 1-2 days., Avoid freezing as it negatively affects texture and flavor.

  • Author: Laura
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Salad
  • Cuisine: Asian-inspired

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: Approximately 250 calories per serving
  • Fat: Approximately 10 grams per serving
  • Carbohydrates: Approximately 12 grams per serving
  • Protein: Approximately 25 grams per serving