Ingredients
- 2 (5-ounce) cans tuna in water, drained
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 1 rib celery, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)
- 1–2 tablespoons red onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon sweet relish or finely chopped pickles
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1–2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, to taste
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Open both tuna cans and pour into a fine-mesh strainer or colander set over a bowl; drain about 30 seconds and gently squeeze the tuna to remove excess liquid.
- Transfer the drained, pressed tuna to a medium mixing bowl.
- Rinse celery, dry, thinly slice and finely chop to about 1/4 cup.
- Thinly slice and mince the red onion.
- Chop the fresh parsley.
- Add ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, and 1–2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (start with 1 teaspoon) to the tuna and stir to combine.
- Stir in the chopped celery, red onion, parsley, and 1 tablespoon sweet relish (or chopped pickles); fold gently and break up any large tuna chunks.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, mix once more, then taste and adjust lemon, mustard, or seasoning as desired.
Notes
Do not skip draining and squeezing the tuna to avoid watery salad., Keep vegetable pieces visible by not chopping too fine for texture., Use fresh mayonnaise within 3-4 weeks for best flavor., Taste and adjust seasoning at the end., Chill ingredients to keep the salad refreshingly cool and maintain texture., For lighter variants, replace half the mayo with plain nonfat Greek yogurt or use avocado/olive oil mayo., Add diced bell pepper, shredded carrot, or chopped dill for a veggie boost., Serve on toasted bread, lettuce wraps, crackers, veggie boards, or baked avocado halves., Store airtight in the coldest fridge shelf up to 3 days, avoid freezing to prevent texture loss., For meal prep, keep salad ingredients separate until just before eating to preserve freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: approximately 1 cup per serving
- Calories: Approximately 250 calories per serving (estimating based on ingredients)
- Fat: Approximately 15 grams per serving
- Carbohydrates: Approximately 5 grams per serving
- Protein: Approximately 20 grams per serving