Cinnamon Free Lemon Mediterranean Tuna Salad
Bright, herby, and packed with Mediterranean flavor, this tuna salad is the kind of dish that feels like a proper meal rather than a quick lunch fix. Flaked tuna gets tossed with crisp cucumber, briny Kalamata olives, capers, and a generous handful of fresh parsley and mint, so every bite has real texture and personality. The dressing is a simple whisk of extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, turmeric, and ginger — warm and citrusy without leaning on any spice blends that might sneak in unwanted ingredients. For anyone navigating a sensitivity to cinnamon, that's actually a common hidden culprit in pre-made spice mixes and store-bought dressings, so building the seasoning from scratch here keeps everything clean and worry-free. Folding rather than stirring keeps the tuna in satisfying chunks instead of a paste, which makes a noticeable difference in the final texture. It comes together in one bowl with no cooking required, and it holds up well in the fridge if you want to prep it ahead for the week.
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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.
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