Spicy Zesty Tuna Salad (Printable)

Vibrant tuna salad with spicy mayo, fresh lemon juice, and crisp scallions for an easy, protein-packed meal.

# 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, adjusted to taste
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
11 - Lemon wedges

# Directions:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in less time than it takes to order takeout, with ingredients you probably already have.
  • The spicy mayo and lemon juice turn plain tuna into something you'll actually crave.
  • It's endlessly adaptable, working beautifully in sandwiches, wraps, or straight from the bowl.
02 -
  • Drain the tuna completely, press it with a fork against the strainer if you have to, because extra water will make your salad soupy and dilute all that flavor you just built.
  • Taste before you serve, every brand of Sriracha and mayonnaise is a little different, so what worked last time might need a squeeze more lemon or another dash of hot sauce this time.
03 -
  • Use tuna packed in water, not oil, because you want control over the richness and the oil can make it greasy.
  • Slice your scallions thin, really thin, so they distribute evenly and don't dominate any single bite.
  • Let the salad rest for even just 10 minutes after mixing, the flavors need a moment to get to know each other.
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