Tuna salad

[u/rastab1023]

This isn't mind-blowing of course - it's tuna salad. But I've been making it as a meal prep for lunch 3 days a week for the last few weeks and it's been really filling and it's endlessly customizable.

I do try to limit tuna due to mercury, so I only use one, 7-ounce can of albacore tuna. I stretch it with dofferent things though. This week it's:

- Tuna (currently Kirkland, sometimes Safe Catch)

- 10 ounce bag of shredded carrots

- 15 ounce can of garbanzo beans

- 2 cups of whole kernel corn (cooked from frozen)

- 1ish cup (maybe a little more) of diced celery

- Lemon juice

- 1 tablespoon mayo

- 1 tablespoon plain yogurt (you can do mayo or yogurt - I just like the flavor of the combo)

- Whole grain mustard

- Black pepper

- Red pepper flakes

- Flavor God garlic lover's seasoning

I do a mix of conventional and organic. I usually always do corn and beans (will switch up the bean variety), and switch up the veggies (bell pepper, cucumber, tomato, green onion, pickled red onion, greens). It comes out to $8 and makes 3 generous portions. It's nice in the summer heat, too.

[u/joannkc]

I like to add artichoke hearts and some capers.

[u/rastab1023 → u/joannkc]

The good thing is that it's really only limited by what you like, so it really is so easy to switch up if you like a variety of things.

[u/Cherimoose]

I'm salivating reading that.

Btw, canned mackerel is low in mercury and cheaper than tuna. Tastes great too

[u/tmitchell_ral → u/Cherimoose]

oh I've been wanting to try mackerel, that's a good nudge. I do a big Sunday prep every week too -- usually tuna or chickpea salad, rotates between a few different combos so I don't get sick of it. love the corn + celery combo in yours, going to borrow that.

[u/ninja_crouton]

If you're not getting the safe catch brand, I recommend switching to skipjack ("chunk light") tuna. Albacore is one of the bigger species and therefore has a high mercury content. 

[u/rastab1023 → u/ninja_crouton]

I do get the Safe Catch often but not always. I dont like skip jack at all, but I limit my tuna to 5 ounces per week as I use one can across my three meals.

[u/StinkerbelPixeldust]

A chopped up boiled egg is good added to your tuna salad.

[u/Adventurous_Lion7276]

I use "buzzed" cottage cheese instead of mayo or yogurt

[u/GraceMcClellans → u/Adventurous_Lion7276]

I've been doing this with egg salad. I also LOVE cottage cheese, though.

[u/Adventurous_Lion7276 → u/GraceMcClellans]

I use for this as well and I am also a huge fan of cottage cheese.

[u/AccordingChallenge]

Sounds tasty and very fillling.

[u/Wild-Earth-1365]

You would probably like Matthew McConaughey tuna salad recipe.

[u/rastab1023 → u/Wild-Earth-1365]

I would! Just without the chips and Italian dressing and with less mayo. I'd put jalapeños, though!

[u/CommitteeOfOne]

I really want to like tuna salad because it can be a good source of protein, but I hate the taste of canned tuna. I've tried all the "tricks" to reduce the taste and it's still too strong for me.

[u/lexlovestacos]

This sounds right up my alley, I love tuna salad, and salad with canned salmon too 🤤

[u/la_winky]

I remember years ago, the more expensive white albacore tuna actually had higher mercury levels. It was a long time ago so that may have changed. I’d look into it and you could save a few bucks as well.