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Italian Tuna Salad Recipe

4.4 from 124 reviews

This Italian Tuna Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish perfect for a quick lunch or light dinner. Made with solid white albacore tuna, fresh basil, capers, and tangy lemon, it combines a delightful mix of textures and Mediterranean flavors. Serve it on bread, atop greens, or enjoy it as a low-carb lettuce wrap for a versatile and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Tuna Salad Base

  • 2 (5.4 oz) cans solid white albacore tuna packed in water, drained
  • 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice (preferably fresh)
  • 1/2 tsp lemon zest
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Mix-ins

  • 1/4 cup sliced black olives (preferably marinated in Italian seasoning)
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves
  • 2 tbsp capers
  • 1/2 cup grape tomatoes, quartered

Instructions

  1. Prepare Tuna: Open the cans of tuna and drain thoroughly to remove any excess water. Place the tuna in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
  2. Flake Tuna: Use a sturdy fork to gently flake the tuna until it is broken into small pieces with no large chunks remaining, ensuring even mixing.
  3. Add Dressing: Add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper to the bowl. Stir the mixture carefully until all ingredients are evenly combined.
  4. Incorporate Vegetables and Herbs: Add the sliced olives, diced red onion, chopped basil, capers, and quartered grape tomatoes to the bowl. Gently toss everything together to combine without mashing the ingredients.
  5. Serve or Chill: You can serve the tuna salad immediately or cover and refrigerate it to chill and meld flavors before serving.

Notes

  • Serve the tuna salad on bread, over a green salad, with cooled pasta, as a dip, or in a melt for variety.
  • Lettuce wraps are an excellent low-carb option if you want to enjoy the salad like a sandwich without added carbs.
  • Using olives marinated in Italian seasoning will enhance the flavor profile significantly.
  • Fresh lemon juice is recommended to brighten the flavor and add freshness.
  • Drain the tuna very well to avoid watery or runny salad.
  • If not served immediately, store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge to maintain freshness.

Keywords: Italian tuna salad, tuna salad recipe, healthy tuna salad, low carb tuna salad, Mediterranean tuna salad, quick lunch recipe