Artificial Flavors Free Lemon Mediterranean Tuna Salad
Bright, herby, and packed with bold Mediterranean flavors, this tuna salad is the kind of dish that makes you forget you're eating something genuinely wholesome. Every ingredient here is real and recognizable — canned tuna, fresh cucumber, Kalamata olives, capers, and a handful of garden herbs — so there's no guessing what's actually in your bowl. The dressing comes together with extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice and zest, ground turmeric, and ginger, delivering a punchy, complex flavor without a single artificial shortcut. That's actually harder to pull off than it sounds, since so many store-bought dressings and flavored tuna products sneak in artificial flavor additives to mimic the real thing. Here, the brightness comes entirely from fresh citrus and herbs, and the depth comes from spice — no imitation needed. Folding everything together gently keeps the tuna in satisfying flakes rather than a mushy paste, and the capers and olives add a briny pop that ties the whole salad together. It's equally good served right away or chilled for the next day's lunch.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 3 cans (5 oz each) tuna packed in water, drained
- 1 english cucumber, diced small
- ½ cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
- 2 tbsp capers, drained and rinsed
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced (green tops only)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh mint, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
- 1 tbsp fresh basil, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, turmeric, ginger, and salt until combined.
- 2
Add the drained tuna to a large mixing bowl and break it apart with a fork into large flakes — not a fine mash.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!