Nitrate & Nitrite Free Lemon Mediterranean Tuna Salad
Bright, herby, and loaded with Mediterranean character, this tuna salad is the kind of dish that makes a simple lunch feel genuinely exciting. Canned tuna is one of those ingredients that can quietly sneak in preservatives, but tuna packed in water — with no added nitrates or nitrites — keeps things clean and straightforward. The dressing is built entirely from scratch: extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, turmeric, and ginger come together into something vibrant and a little unexpected. Kalamata olives, capers, crisp English cucumber, and a generous handful of fresh herbs give every bite real texture and depth. The turmeric adds a warm, golden hue and a subtle earthiness that pairs beautifully with the brightness of the lemon. Fold everything together gently so the tuna stays in satisfying flakes rather than turning into a paste, and you've got a salad that works over greens, tucked into a pita, or eaten straight from the bowl.
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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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