Spicy Zesty Tuna Salad (Printable)

Vibrant tuna salad with spicy mayo, lemon juice, and crisp scallions. Ready in 10 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 2 cans (5 oz each) tuna in water, drained

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
03 - 1 celery stalk, finely diced (optional)

→ Dressing

04 - 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
05 - 2 teaspoons Sriracha or hot sauce
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
07 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
08 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

10 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or cilantro (optional)
11 - Lemon wedges

# Steps:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Sriracha, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
02 - Add the drained tuna, scallions, and celery if using to the bowl. Gently mix until the tuna is evenly coated with the dressing.
03 - Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more lemon juice or hot sauce if desired to achieve desired spice level.
04 - Serve immediately garnished with fresh herbs and lemon wedges, or chill for 30 minutes for enhanced flavor development.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It takes less time to make than waiting for delivery and tastes infinitely better.
  • The spicy mayo clings to every flake of tuna so you get flavor in every single bite.
  • You can make it as mild or as fiery as your taste buds can handle.
  • It works on bread, in a wrap, or straight out of the bowl with a fork when nobody is watching.
02 -
  • Do not skip draining the tuna thoroughly or your salad will be soupy and sad.
  • If you add the lemon juice directly to the tuna before mixing in the mayo, it can make the texture grainy, so always mix the dressing first.
  • Taste before you add salt because some canned tuna is already heavily salted and you might not need any at all.
03 -
  • Use chunk light tuna instead of solid white albacore if you want a milder flavor and a softer texture.
  • Let the salad sit for five minutes after mixing so the tuna absorbs the dressing and every bite is evenly seasoned.
  • If you want it extra zesty, add a pinch of lemon zest along with the juice for a burst of citrus aroma.
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