The unexpected addition of green apple and avocado introduces a delightful contrast between crisp tartness and creamy goodness, giving this tuna salad a distinct southern flair. The chemistry at play in this salad is serious! If you’re a tuna enthusiast, don’t miss our Avocado Tuna Salad.
Ingredients for Apple Tuna Salad
This elevated tuna salad recipe incorporates classic tuna salad ingredients with a twist—apple, avocado, and toasted almonds. It might just become your go-to tuna recipe. You’ll need:
- Canned Tuna – the main ingredient is a pantry staple. We used tuna in water, but canned tuna in oil will work, just be sure it is well-drained.
- Green Apple – diced green apples add a crisp bite to this and make the salad taste so fresh. If you don’t have apples, you can substitute celery for a more traditional tuna salad.
- Avocados – add creaminess and flavor so you can get away with using less mayonnaise.
- Toasted Almonds – add nice texture and crunch. You can easily omit almonds if you don’t have them on hand.
- Lemon Juice – use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor and avoid concentrate. If you don’t have lemons on hand, try substituting with ½ Tbsp dijon mustard.
How to Make Tuna Salad with Apples
- Toast your almonds in a dry skillet until golden brown. Remove them and let them cool slightly.
- Drain the tuna. I open the lid and then press it down firmly over the tuna to drain off as much water as my gigantic muscles (not) can squeeze out. If your tuna is too wet, your salad will be wet = no.
- Combine everything in a large mixing bowl and add a pinch of black pepper and lemon juice to taste.
Make-Ahead
When stored properly, tuna salads can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Since we are working with fish and mayonnaise, keep the salad refrigerated until ready to serve.
