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Tuna salad is a great lunchtime or potluck staple, but there are only so many ways you can customize the dish. Finding a creative way to make it is even harder when you’re short on time or ingredients, but there are still methods for elevating it. Rather than buying the regular version of the fish, opt for spicy canned tuna.
Marinating tuna before you mix it into the salad helps with the flavor, but it’s easier when the work has been done for you. Store-bought spicy tuna can be spruced up with anything from fruity Calabrian chilis to hot paprika and cayenne, giving the mild fish a fiery kick. Best of all, the oil-packed cans are delicious when making a tuna salad; the added moisture provides both the fish and overall meal with a richer flavor. The tender tuna enhances any run-of-the-mill tuna salad, and the leftover oil works wonders for the dressing, too.
If it’s packed in a fat routinely used in dressings, like Fishwife’s Albacore Tuna in Spicy Olive Oil, the remainders can add a touch of heat, and more, to the salad dressing. The fish is steeped in Spanish olive oil, a fruity, nutty-tasting fat that adds layers of flavor to the finished meal. Take the tuna out of the can and set it aside before mixing the spice-infused oil with mayo, lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper. Combine the tuna with chopped celery, dill, red onions, and relish before tossing everything together.
Elevate these salad recipes with spicy canned tuna
Mexican-inspired tuna salad is one of the easiest recipes to spice up with fiery canned fish. Filled with creamy avocado, roasted red peppers, toasted corn, and fresh cilantro, a rich addition like Tonnino’s Smoked Jalapeño Yellowfin Tuna works perfectly with the rest of the dish. The vegetal peppers bring a subtle kick to the dish without dominating the other ingredients. The jalapeño-infused smoked olive oil easily brings depth to the dressing, making it the perfect replacement for fresh peppers.
Roasted sweet potato and tuna salad is a more decadent take on the classic dish, and it works well with flavored canned tuna that matches the balance of honeyed and savory. Spicy tuna is a must-try canned food you’ll find at an Asian grocery store, and there are an abundance of sweet and spicy flavored tuna options that will complement a sweet potato tuna salad. Dongwon’s Tuna with Hot Pepper Sauce, for example, delivers a fiery heat that’s elevated with sugar and carrots for a subtle sweetness.
If you want something a little more simple, like a crunchy green goddess tuna salad, opt for canned tuna that features a mild, straightforward chili flavor. The salad is a medley of green bell peppers, celery, scallions, and fresh herbs; to keep it light and refreshing, pair it with a subtle heat that boosts the ingredients rather than dominating them.
