Description
Crisp apples dance with savory tuna in this refreshing apple tuna salad, blending sweet and tangy flavors for a delightful midday meal. Crunchy textures and protein-packed ingredients make this recipe a perfect quick lunch that satisfies hunger and delights taste buds.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 cans (5 ounces each) tuna (drained)
Produce:
- 1 medium apple (chopped, any variety Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well)
- ¼ cup celery (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons red onion (finely chopped, optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley or dill (optional, for garnish)
Seasoning and Dressing:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt (optional, for a tangy touch)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Carefully break down the drained tuna into delicate flakes using a fork in a spacious mixing vessel, creating a light and airy texture.
- Incorporate finely diced crisp apple pieces, crunchy celery, and sharp red onion into the tuna, ensuring an even distribution of ingredients.
- Whisk together a creamy dressing in a separate small bowl, blending mayonnaise, tangy Greek yogurt, zesty Dijon mustard, bright lemon juice, and a balanced combination of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Gently fold the vibrant dressing into the tuna mixture, coating each ingredient thoroughly while maintaining the delicate texture of the fish.
- Taste and fine-tune the seasoning, adding additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice to achieve a perfectly balanced flavor profile.
- Allow the salad to rest in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes, enabling the flavors to meld and intensify.
- Present the salad in multiple versatile ways: nestled between bread slices, atop crisp crackers, scattered over fresh greens, or creatively stuffed inside hollowed apple halves for an eye-catching presentation.
- Optionally garnish with fresh parsley or delicate dill fronds to add a final touch of herbal brightness and visual appeal.
Notes
- Choose crisp, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for maximum crunch and flavor contrast in the tuna salad.
- Dice apple pieces small and uniform to ensure even distribution and prevent large chunks from overpowering the tuna.
- Pat tuna dry before mixing to prevent excess moisture that could make the salad watery and dilute the dressing’s flavor.
- Substitute Greek yogurt with vegan alternatives like cashew cream for dairy-free and plant-based dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg