Barley Free Basil-Avocado Tuna Slaw
This slaw is a vibrant, satisfying bowl that brings together crisp shredded cabbage, sweet grated carrot, and hearty tuna, all tied together with a punchy herb dressing that tastes genuinely fresh. The basil dressing is the real star — made by mashing together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, turmeric, and ginger until it turns a brilliant, fragrant green. Creamy avocado cubes are folded in at the end so they stay intact and add a buttery richness that makes every bite feel indulgent without being heavy. For anyone navigating grain sensitivities, this recipe is naturally free of any grain-based thickeners or fillers — every ingredient is whole, clean, and easy to verify at a glance. There's no hidden starch lurking in a bottled dressing because you're blending your own from scratch in under a minute. It comes together quickly and works beautifully as a light lunch, a protein-packed dinner, or even a crowd-pleasing dish to bring to a gathering. Finish it with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a scatter of parsley, and it looks as good as it tastes.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the slaw
- 3 cups green cabbage, finely shredded
- 1 cup red cabbage, finely shredded
- 1 large carrot, peeled and coarsely grated
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced (green tops only)
- 2 cans (5 oz each) tuna packed in water, drained and flaked
- 2 ripe avocados, pitted, peeled, and cut into ½-inch cubes
For the basil dressing
- 1 ½ cups fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
- lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a small mixing bowl, combine the basil, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, turmeric, and ginger. Using a fork or the back of a spoon, mash and stir vigorously until the basil is bruised and the dressing is cohesive and bright green, about 1 minute. Taste and adjust salt.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the green cabbage, red cabbage, carrot, and scallion greens. Pour about two-thirds of the dressing over the vegetables and toss until every strand is evenly coated.
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