Description
Deluxe Southern Tuna Salad is a creamy, flavorful dish combining tuna, hard-boiled eggs, crisp celery, tangy pickles, and a zesty dressing made with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar. Perfect for a light lunch or picnic, this salad can be served on lettuce leaves or bread for a classic Southern-style meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Tuna Salad
- 2 cans (5 oz each) tuna in water, drained
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish or chopped pickles
Dressing
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley (optional)
To Serve (Optional)
- Lettuce leaves or bread
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Drain the tuna and set aside. Chop the hard-boiled eggs, celery, red onion, and sweet pickle relish or chopped pickles into small, bite-sized pieces to ensure easy mixing and even flavor distribution.
- Make the Dressing: In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice), garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well until the dressing is smooth and creamy.
- Combine the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, add the drained tuna, chopped eggs, celery, onion, and pickles. Pour the prepared dressing over the mixture and gently stir until all ingredients are well coated. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if desired. Optionally, stir in the finely chopped fresh parsley for a fresh herbaceous note.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes. Chilling allows the flavors to meld together and enhances the overall taste.
- Serve: Serve the tuna salad chilled on a bed of fresh lettuce leaves or use it as a filling for sandwiches with your choice of bread for a hearty and satisfying meal.
- Enjoy: Relish the refreshing and tangy flavors of this classic Southern tuna salad as a nutritious and delicious option for lunch or light dinner.
Notes
- For extra crunch, consider adding chopped celery seeds or toasted nuts.
- Use low-fat mayonnaise to reduce calorie content.
- Substitute Greek yogurt for mayonnaise for a lighter dressing.
- Hard-boil eggs ahead of time for quicker preparation.
- Adjust acidity with more apple cider vinegar or lemon juice if desired.
