A tuna salad sandwich is such a staple, you don't even need a recipe, right? It's tuna,
mayo, a little celery, some lemon juice, and maybe onion. But what if you're feeling adventurous?
Keep watching for a rarely-used ingredient that'll change your tuna salad forever.
Tuna salad is a beloved American dish; in fact, Americans consume a whopping amount of canned tuna
each year. It might sound a little fishy, but according to the National Fisheries Institute,
Americans eat one billion pounds of canned and pouched tuna on an annual basis,
and 52% of Americans enjoy tuna salad sandwiches.
But if those traditional ingredients don't bring your tuna salad to the level of tastiness
your taste buds desire, we have the secret ingredient that will change all of that. And
the best part? This flavor-enhancing condiment is probably already in your refrigerator.
To add a splash of flavor to your tuna salad,
you should consider adding soy sauce to the recipe, suggests the Salted Spoonful.
According to the Cooking Channel, soy sauce has been around since 300 C.E. and is an essential
condiment for eating sushi, ramen, lo mein, and plenty of other Asian dishes. Soy sauce adds an
umami flavor to whatever recipes you want to make pop. It's that rich, savory depth of flavor,
coupled with a subtle sweetness, that pairs brilliantly with all types of fish
and will knock the socks off your tuna salad — and anyone you make it for.
"I'm like a drug dealer. I got the guy hooked. I'm having lunch at his
desk every day this week, just him and me. He doesn't make a move without me!"
However, as Salted Spoonful explains, adding the soy sauce is only part of the secret
equation here. The other part is to allow your tuna to take a nice bath in the sauce
for anywhere between three hours to overnight. The marinating allows the fermented flavors of
the brown juice to work its magical powers. But you might be wondering — is it really that yummy?
Well, it must be — sandwich shop Jimmy John's uses soy sauce in the recipe for
its tuna salad sandwich. And there are plenty of copycat recipes out there that
get pretty close to the delicious taste of the Jimmy John's version.
So, just how much soy sauce should you add to your tuna salad? Recipes vary, but Food.com
suggests using 1/4 cup of soy sauce for every six five-ounce cans of tuna in your recipe.
Let's say you avoid tuna sandwiches for another reason: You love tuna,
but aren't a mayo fan. Hope isn't lost: You can replace the mayo in tuna salad with Greek yogurt.
Greek yogurt doesn't just add creaminess to your tuna salad, but it will also boost the
dish's protein content. Add some extra flavor by layering in Dijon mustard and avocado,
as well as crunchy elements such as cucumber, celery, and spring onions.
Bumble Bee Tuna also has its own take on the tuna-yogurt combo;
the company uses the ingredients to create a variety of dishes,
including a low-carb tuna and avocado snack, and a tuna, dill, and yogurt-filled pita pocket.
They also suggest that if you're looking for something with a little heat, sliced jalapeños
might just be the perfect ingredient addition. In addition to the heat, jalapeños also add
crunch — and it's such a good combination that they've turned it into pre-packaged products.
Speaking of the spicy jalapeño, any spicy pepper might be pretty brilliant in your tuna salad.
Men's Health reveals that the juice from jalapeños, which are often found in Mexican
dishes, can also improve the taste of tuna salad. The magazine shares that the juice
from jalapeños will make mayo or Greek yogurt even creamier. And that "bite and burn" feeling
the peppers create on your tongue adds a kick that spice lovers are sure to enjoy.
If you're unsure about how much to add, start with just a dash.
Remember, you can always add more — taking it out, though?
That's just not going to happen: So start slow, add more, and you'll know for next time.
We love this suggestion for a few reasons: It's delicious, and it gets to the heart of
the "waste not, want not" adage, too; instead of dumping the juice from a jar of jalapeños,
you can use it in your recipes. If you're really on an anti-waste kick,
you can also use jalapeño juice to make spicy green juice or even spicy margaritas.
Check out one of our newest videos right here! Plus,
even more Mashed videos about your favorite dishes are coming soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.