Easy Asian Tuna Salad Recipe
Put an Asian-inspired twist on your next tuna salad sandwich! This easy Asian tuna salad recipe features scallions, bell pepper, toasted sesame seeds, and a dash of soy sauce for a lunch that deviates from the same old, same old.
Recipe Mood: Spruced-Up Lunch
Indulgence Level: Medium
Effort Level: Easy
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Most Asian tuna salads are designed to be eaten like an actual salad—fork and all—and they’re often tossed with shredded cabbage and carrots and a zesty dressing. But this easy Asian tuna salad recipe is served in sandwich form (just like my easy tuna and smoked salmon sandwich) and mirrors traditional tuna salad—mayo and all.
The Asian-inspired flavors come from scallions, bell pepper, toasted sesame seeds, and soy sauce, and it’s easy to customize this recipe with other additions, like shredded cabbage and carrots!
Scoop this tuna salad onto your favorite bread, or serve it with crackers, on a bed of lettuce, or on a bed of thinly sliced vine tomatoes. You can’t go wrong!
Did you know?
In the U.S., 52% of canned tuna is used for sandwiches!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Asian Tuna Salad Recipe
Asian-inspired spin: Scallions, bell pepper, toasted sesame seeds, and soy sauce give this tuna salad a distinctive Asian twist.
Make-ahead lunch: Tuna salad tastes better when it has a chance to sit for a while; you can make this up to a day ahead for a no-fuss lunch.
Cafe/deli vibes: Zhuzed up tuna salad helps make it taste more like you grabbed it from your favorite cafe or deli.
Key Ingredients
- Scallions: With their relatively mild flavor, you can use more of them than other onions.
- Red Bell Pepper: This adds brightness and crunch.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds: This gives the tuna a distinctive flavor and added texture.
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: Just enough gives the tuna a slight umami flavor.
See the recipe card below for more information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make This Recipe
- Drain tuna: Drain half the olive oil from the cans of tuna. Place the tuna in a bowl and break it with a fork.
- Mix ingredients: Add remaining ingredients to the tuna and mix thoroughly.
- Serve: Pile the tuna salad onto your favorite bread.
Pro Tips
Make ahead: Prepare this tuna salad up to 1 day in advance of serving. It tastes even better if you let it sit for a bit.
Use your hands: Don’t be afraid to break up the tuna with your hands. The finer the shred, the better it absorbs the mayo and soy sauce.
Variations & Substitutions
-Add shredded carrots, purple cabbage, and cucumber for more color and nutrients.
-Use Kewpie mayo for more Asian influence.
-Use Greek yogurt or a mix of yogurt and mayo.
-Add a dash of sesame oil for a more pronounced sesame flavor.
-Toss in some cilantro, if you like it.
-Squeeze in a splash of lime juice for bright acidity.
Recipe FAQs
There are many good brands, but I’m a fan of Genova. I also favor yellowfin tuna, which I think is superior to other canned tuna varieties.
Yellowfin is softer and more tender, whereas albacore has a firmer texture. Flavor-wise, yellowfin has a slightly stronger taste; albacore is a bit milder. I prefer yellowfin tuna hands-down.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
More Salad Recipes
- Crunchy cucumber salad with avocado
- Marinated tomato salad
- Mediterranean shrimp orzo salad
- Creamy dill pickle chicken salad with mayonnaise
If you love this recipe, please take a moment to review it below. You could also tag me on Instagram (@forcarbssake) with a picture of your finished dish!
Easy Asian Tuna Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 5-ounce cans tuna in olive oil (Note 1)
- ½ cup scallions white and green parts, sliced
- ⅓ cup red bell pepper diced
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds (Note 2)
- 5 tablespoons full-fat mayonnaise
- ½ tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- Pinch of kosher salt
- Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Drain about half the olive oil from each can of tuna. Place the tuna in a bowl and break it up with a fork (the finer the better, so it really absorbs the wet ingredients).
- Place remaining ingredients in the bowl with the tuna and mix thoroughly. Taste for salt, and add more mayo, if desired. Scoop it onto your favorite bread. This makes 2-4 sandwiches, depending mainly on the size and type of bread. Enjoy!
So delicious and refreshing! The flavors give ordinary tuna salad a different vibe.