Bonjour, mes amis!
Today, I’m going to be whipping up a delicious French-style tuna fish salad that’s sure to impress. But I’m not stopping there – I’ll be serving it over a bed of tangy pickled beets to take it to the next level. Are you ready to indulge in this culinary adventure? Alors, let’s get started!
Before I go into detail about how to make this delicious tuna salad, I want to tell you a little back story of how I was inspired to make this salad.
My husband used to live in Paris, France many years ago. He lived there as a young adult. I know, I’m a little jealous too! 😏 During his many days of exploration in that beautiful city, he came across a little bistro that served this tuna salad, of course on an amazing freshly made French baguette. He told me about this sandwich recently while I was figuring out what to make for lunch one Saturday afternoon.
He explained in detail what was in it and I just had to try and replicate it. Well, to his satisfaction and of course mine and my daughter’s too, we all approved. I didn’t make it on a French baguette, we used whatever bread I had on hand that day, but I more recently gave it a new twist that I think is a great salad to eat any time of year, but more enjoyable during the warm Spring and Summer months to come.
For this recipe, you’ll need canned tuna. I love an albacore tuna in water versus in oil, it tastes a lot better in my opinion, red onion, fresh parsley, corn, and of course, some pickled beets. For the dressing, we’ll be using a combination of mayonnaise and a pinch of ground black pepper. I don’t typically add salt to this recipe because mayonnaise already has a good portion of sodium and so does canned tuna fish, but feel free to add some if desired. Are you ready to taste the magic of this French delight?
Drain the canned tuna and transfer it to a large bowl. Add in some finely chopped red onion, fresh parsley, and corn for crunch and flavor. Add in the mayonnaise and freshly ground black pepper. Pour it over the tuna mixture and toss everything together until well-coated.
Now it’s time to plate up! Place a generous portion of pickled beets on a plate and spoon the tuna salad over the tops of the beets. The bright colors and contrasting flavors are simply Magnifique! You can garnish with extra parsley or some lemon zest for a pop of freshness.
This French-style tuna fish salad with pickled beets is perfect for a light lunch or dinner, or even as an impressive appetizer for your next dinner party. It’s healthy and flavorful, and the pickled beets add a tangy and refreshing touch that perfectly complements the tuna salad.
Serve it with a crisp glass of white wine for the ultimate French experience. Bon appétit!
Tips and Other Options for Making Tuna Salad
- Choose the right tuna: Use high-quality canned tuna. Albacore tuna packed in water is a good option.
- Drain and flake the tuna: Drain the tuna completely and use a fork to flake it into small pieces.
- Add crunch: Adding some corn, diced celery, chopped red onion, or diced bell peppers can add some crunch and texture to your salad.
- Add some herbs: Adding fresh herbs like parsley, dill, or cilantro can add some brightness and freshness to your salad.
- Dress it up: Create a simple dressing by combining olive oil, lemon juice or vinegar, and Dijon mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste, or just a simple mayonnaise or avocado will suffice.
- Mix well: Be sure to mix the ingredients well so that the flavors are evenly distributed.
- Chill before serving: Letting the tuna fish salad chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving can help the flavors meld together and make it even more delicious.
- Experiment with different flavors: Don’t be afraid to add different ingredients to your tuna fish salad like capers, olives, or even fruit like diced apples or grapes for a sweet and savory twist.
Here’s a list of some common foods that you could eat with tuna fish salad:
- Bread or crackers: You can use bread or crackers to make a sandwich or eat with tuna salad as a snack.
- Vegetables: Carrots, celery, cucumber, bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes are great options to add crunch and freshness to the salad.
- Greens: Arugula, spinach, kale, or mixed greens are a perfect base for the tuna salad.
- Fruit: Sliced apples, grapes, or diced pineapple can add a nice sweetness to the tuna salad.
- Pasta: Adding cooked pasta to tuna salad can make it more filling and create a tuna pasta salad.
- Rice: Adding cooked rice to the salad is another way to make it more filling and create a tuna rice salad.
- Avocado: Sliced or diced avocado is a great addition to a tuna salad sandwich or wrap.
- Hard-boiled eggs: Adding sliced hard-boiled eggs to the tuna salad can provide additional protein.
- Cheese: Adding shredded or crumbled cheese, such as cheddar, feta, or Parmesan, can add flavor and texture.
- Nuts: Chopped walnuts, almonds, or pecans can provide a nice crunch and nutty flavor to the tuna salad.
Have fun with this recipe. Feel free to share what you have done in the comments below or share a picture of you enjoying this delicious meal!
Bom apetite! Enjoy your meal!
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Zesty Tuna Fish Salad Over Pickled Beets
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 3 cans of tuna fish drained
- 1 cup of corn cooked
- 3/4 cup of finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley
- 1 cup of mayonnaise
- 1 can of pickled beets
- zest of one lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the drained tuna fish with the corn, red onion, and parsley.
- Add the mayonnaise and mix well until everything is evenly coated. Add more mayonnaise if you prefer a creamier texture.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Be careful not to overdo it with the salt, as the mayonnaise can already be quite salty.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- When ready to serve, place a generous portion of pickled beets on a plate and spoon the tuna salad over the tops of the beets.
- Take the zest of one lemon and sprinkle over top for an added flavor of rich tanginess.
- Bom appetite!
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