Remake your classic tuna salad with this no-mayo, Whole30-approved recipe. Filled with seasonal berries, avocado and dill, this salad will become a lunch staple.
For better or worse, I have strong and distinct memories of my past. Smells, places, sounds, tastes, you name it, I’ll associate it with something. Pink Sugar body spray reminds me of middle school, particularly the locker room after gym class. The song “If I Die Young” reminds me of a family vacation in high school (not the words of the song, just listening to it on repeat). Tuna fish reminds me of crazy weeknights growing up when I had to run between a million after school activities. And by run, I mean my mom had to drive me.
Tuna has been in my life for years but it’s ONLY eaten when my dad is not around. He despises it…calls it cat food. Truthfully, I understand. It’s not the prettiest food out there (I tried my best with the photos). And yeah, it’s probably best to have a mint afterward. But my mom, sister and I love it so we work around his distaste.
In middle school when the extracurriculars were abundant and I needed to eat dinner in the car on the way from basketball practice to CCD, a tuna fish sandwich from QuickChek in New Jersey was the go-to meal. New readers: I lived in northern New Jersey for five years before moving to Florida in high school.
My mom cooked dinner probably 5/7 days a week but some nights there was no time to stop at home. She let my sister and I go to this dumpy, quick-mart-type place (it might have been a gas station, I can’t remember) and pick out a sandwich. We usually got tuna melts with cheese on a big roll. If we were lucky we got a slushy, too. Not the most nutritious meal, but it didn’t hurt every now and then. Or maybe it did because I got diagnosed with celiac soon after? Haha. Occasionally we went to Atlanta Bread Company (does that still exist?) where we’d order the same thing but on bread, not a roll. That was a fancier fast-meal.
Yet even when we were home for dinner, tuna fish sandwiches/wraps were always a staple, and for good reason. It’s a super quick, healthy (when made at home) and versatile protein. Have it with salad, stuff tomatoes, eat it with crackers. I do all the above.
Ok, here’s where the funny part comes in. I felt some random need to make a red, white and blue recipe for the 4th of July. There are a million and one festive recipes and desserts on Pinterest but I thought this was a different way to still get the holiday colors. No, tuna fish isn’t “white” but go with it. And yes, if you add avocado and lemon to the bowl it somewhat takes away from the patriotic theme. JUST HUMOR ME.
Plus, it’s another way to sneak berries into my food. Maybe that’s my real motivation.
A quick note about the recipe: I didn’t use mayo because I typically don’t have it around and I’m lazy. I don’t think you need it at all, but feel free to add it if you think you do! The berries and Dijon mask a lot of the fishy-taste, if you aren’t in the “I love tuna fish” camp.
Click To Tweet
- 1 can of tuna fish (I used Wild Planet)
- 2 tbsp of Dijon mustard
- 1/2 lemon
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2 tsp of dill
- 4 strawberries
- 1/2 cup of blueberries
- 1 tbsp sunflower seeds
- 1 avocado
- Mixed greens
- Mix tuna with lemon, olive oil and Dijon.
- Chop fresh dill, strawberries and blueberries and add to tuna.
- Add sunflower seeds, mix until throughly combined.
- Make two salads with mixed greens, sliced avocado (half in each bowl) and tuna salad.
- Serve with additional berries*
- *Optional, if you'd like to get in more summer fruit
PIN FOR LATER:
My family doesn’t eat meat on Fridays, so every Friday growing up we would usually have tuna fish sandwiches, and even when I go home to visit on a Friday, we usually have tuna fish sandwiches for lunch. It has always been one of my favorite traditions because I love tuna fish. I never thought to pair it with berries, but I am sure it would taste great!!
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…Strawberry & Blueberry Baked Oatmeal Cups
I think I just want to eat berries with everything this time of year! I’m glad your a tuna fan too ;)
I love tuna, but totally understand aversion to the smell. And I adore the idea to add berries to tuna salad! I see grapes, etc. in chicken salad all the time, but I’ve never thought to do that to tuna salad.
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday recently posted…(Paleo) Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
The smell does linger a long time, I get that. I’ve done grapes and walnuts (“classic” Waldorf tuna, I suppose) but I love the berries.
I used to be totally grossed out by canned fish because of the smell, but I’ve learned to love it since I started cooking for myself because it’s so much cheaper than fresh fish at our local co-op. This looks delicious–adding berries is such a unique twist! :D
Foods that remind me of growing up: Cheerios, Skippy peanut butter (crunchy, not smooth!), and my mom’s oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Not the “healthiest” list, haha :P
Claire @ My Pink & Green Life recently posted…Travel: Camping at Lake Maria State Park
It’s so nice to keep on hand for lunches and dinners when I don’t have stuff in the fridge (or don’t feel like cooking). I ate Skippy growing up too, but I didn’t become a crunchy fun until recently :)
I love tuna!! When I was in my dorm last semester, I would make my own homemade version of a tuna salad to have for easy meals. I’ve never thought to try it with berries, though! That sounds yummy.
Tuna fish is perfect for dorms! So simple to make and even take to class.
Tuna is such a hit or miss for me, but recently I’ve been craving it (pregnancy craving). I’ve been afraid that if I sit down with a tuna sandwich, it will be a sudden no go and I’ll never like tuna again. That happened with bread, BREAD, and my first pregnancy. Coudn’t even look at bread. This salad might be the answer though, anything in salad form is delicious!!!
Oh no! Crossing my fingers that doesn’t happen with tuna.
I grew up eating tuna noodle casserole and it was definitely NOT my favorite. But I love eating tuna salad now and this recipe looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it :)
Ellie | Hungry by Nature recently posted…Peach Galette
I’ve never had tuna noodle casserole! I prefer tuna without the heavy additions though. Thanks!
OMG I LOVE tuna fish and weirdly have been eating it a lot lately…I cannot get enough seafood. My Mom used to make the best tuna melts on a English Muffin with American Cheese…HAHA! Once in a while I like to make grown up grilled cheeses and they just bring back such good memories. Love this recipe…I’m making chicken salad tonight with a roasted potato. XOXO
Yes! My mom made them on English muffins too :)
I was always a fan of the classic tuna salad sandwich on toasted bread. Still like a tuna melt on Udi’s on occasion, especially since with marathon training I’m doing a little more GF bread again just because I sometimes get sick of potatoes as my carby refuel :) I’ve never thought of tuna salad with berries though, that sounds amazing!
Alyssa @ renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…Weekly Workouts and Updates 6/20-6/27
Because adding berries turned out well, nothing is stopping me from adding different things now! I typically add avocado and grapes to the mixture but the options are endless.
I love tuna but honestly I never really buy it or have it.. no clue why! It reminds me of when I was younger and our babysitter would make us tuna sandwiches for lunch before nap time. Oh the good ol’ days :) But seriously, I should start buying tuna.
Amanda @ ExploringLifeAndThings recently posted…Currently: June
I got in a tuna kick earlier this year! It’s just so convenient.
Boxed things: Campbell’s condensed soup, Chunky soup, pb and butter sandwiches, kraft mac n cheese, stouffers lasagna and rice bakes… we were a family of simple tastes that demanded quick satisfaction!
And yes, TUNA FISH IS PATRIOTIC
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…The Kind Of Mom I Want To Be
Kraft Mac n’ Cheese… who didn’t eat that growing up?!
O my gosh, haha! For some reason this brought back a memory when we did a trip from NJ to Ohio to visit a college for my brother. You know the struggles of traveling GF, so I had to pack food that could be kept, not cold….so I packed a can of tuna fish….I remember my dad (this was late at night, driving home, at a rest stop) using the can opener I brought and draining the tuna fish outside the car…close to midnight…just so I could eat…you could only imagine how weird it was…the stares :P Hahahaha!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Strawberry Cappuccino Ice Cream
The worst part about tuna is needing a can opener! Some of the Wild Planet cans have tabs, which makes life much easier. But yes, the struggles of traveling GF are real!
I love tuna. Sometimes I get a ridiculous craving for it as well. Ooh or even better…sardines! This year I discovered they come in heaps of different flavours, so I’ve made it my mission to try them all. (Except the hot sauce one because this girl can’t handle the heat.)
Megan recently posted…4 secrets to avoiding disappointment
Girl, the strawberry and blueberry combo totally looks patriotic! And this looks like such a delicious salad. The colors are beautiful and the tuna can definitely pass for white.
Sometimes I feel like tuna is pink and other times it’s more white (probably depends on the exact fish but I don’t pay enough attention haha).
This looks so fresh and delicious!
I didn’t eat tuna salad until this past year – the smell always revolted me. Funny you mention that about your dad because I can remember as a child my dad coming home for lunch and eating tuna salad sandwiches and I refused to go near him, haha. Now I just make my own appealing version!
I always joked that he would grow out of his tuna fish aversion, but apparently all his brothers still hate it too!
I loveee tuna and I love berries but I never would have thought of combining the two! I need to try this soon as I love sweet and savoury combos!
As for food memories. For me it’s Kraft light crunchy peanut butter (yep, with the sugar + salt + oil and I couldn’t care less!) and cheese on plain pasta that reminds me of my childhood! Two odd foods but they’re totally comforting and I can still eat them :P
Most of the other foods I link with memories I can no longer have post coeliac diagnosis!
Kristy from Southern In Law recently posted…Kristy’s Random Ramblings #1
It is a good combo of sweet and savory! Oh lots of Kraft products were consumed pre-celiac. Lots haha
I love tuna, especially when it’s raw but I like canned too. My mom used to make tuna salad when I was younger which i loved but I bet I would like this version better since it has no mayo!
rachel @ athleticavocado recently posted…Burrito bowl Stuffed Peppers {Paleo, Vegan + Whole 30 Options!}
Raw/seared tuna is the best! Love making sushi bowls with it.
Mixing TUNA with olive oil and mustard is one of my favorite things to do – along with a little avocado because I mean, MORE FAT – THE BETTER! ;)
GiGi Eats recently posted…Chinese Take Out, Made In
YES! I typically add avocado in the mixture but I kept it on the side for color purposes :)
Such pretty photos! Never would have thought to add fruits to tuna! TUNA FISH ALL THE WAY!!!! To all the people that hate tuna, i’m sorry but i’m the one who will open up their tin of tuna in the office or lunch room and give zero f….cares! for some reason ham and cheese sandwiches remind me of school lunches and growing up! But it had to be white bread, and had to be cut into 4 squares!
Georgie @ Healthy Pears recently posted…Raw Lime & Coconut Cheesecakes
Haha I love your love for tuna! I remember bringing it as a snack to a class in college and definitely got a few stares. Oops…
What a great recipe! After tasting it tonight I think it will be featured on my next round-up post :)
Thanks, Kimberly! I hope you like the taste :)