Jalapeno tuna salad is a must-have classic recipe for a family dinner, a summer party, or a holiday buffet. The jalapeno's spice gives the salad robust flavors and a kick, making every bite refreshing, addictive, and incredible.
This spicy tuna fish salad is made with pantry-ready ingredients. This versatile dish can be a standalone salad or fused with pasta, burger, or sandwich.
About this recipe
This delicious salad goes anywhere you like. We enjoy exploring more ways to use them, as we love them a lot.
You may top it with the burger or sandwich, toss it in the pasta salad, or serve it in the pinch bowl with chips.
It's made with mayonnaise, chopped cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno pepper, onion, cucumber, and tomato(refer to this cucumber jalapeno salad for a lighter version). The variations are limitless.
Try combining your own to turn this into your best tuna salad. Furthermore, if you have preserved the roasted jalapeno from your garden, you may also use them.
This spicy tuna salad recipe is excellent for tossing in the pasta. Get ready to dig in.
How spicy is Jalapeno tuna salad?
The recipe I shared here tastes mildly spicy. I removed the seeds and the membrane entirely and added just the jalapeno's skin. So, the salad inherits all the bright flavors of the pepper but not the heat.
However, you are making it. Hence, you also have complete control over the ingredients and the heat. Add some seeds for the hot version, and leave the membrane for moderate spice.
The key ingredients facts.
Every one of us may not have all the ingredients available when we plan for. Therefore, we ordered the list of elements according to their priority.
Canned tuna. This is an affordable and pantry staple option. We stock this in the kitchen; it is handy for quick dinners. Furthermore, the description on its package says it contains 42% protein. This is excellent news for those who are searching for a protein-rich diet.
Jalapeno. Jalapeno brings a brilliant aroma that covers up the seafood's unique smell. It also makes salad loved by everyone, including people who do not like seafood.
Mayo: Coats all the other ingredients well in this jalapeno tuna salad, giving it a creamy texture and taste. You can use light, olive oil, or regular mayo. I used light mayo here.
Cilantro. To me, cilantro and jalapeno are inseparable. Not in this recipe. Toss minced cilantro wherever you use jalapeno. The results are the perfect winner. A small amount can bring in a lot more fragrance.
Hot sauce. I used the regular hot sauce. You may swap it with sriracha sauce or any other nonsweet hot sauce.
Lime juice. Added for its zing factor. Yet, it may be substituted with lemon juice or white wine vinegar.
Onion. I used yellow onion, but sweet onion and red onion are equally good in this jalapeno tuna salad recipe.
Cucumber. Throw in other vegetables like shredded carrots or beet.
How to make it?
Prepping: Drain the tuna well. Mince the cilantro. Chop the jalapeno and remove the seeds and pith. Set the other ingredients ready.
Mix. In a wide mixing bowl, add all the ingredients. Gently toss until combined.
Serve. And toss jalapeno tuna salad with pasta or top with a sandwich.
Pro Tips
Wear gloves while chopping jalapenos. When jalapenos come in contact with the skin, it irritates and leaves a burning sensation for a long time. And never touch your face or eyes after handling the jalapenos.
Reserve some seeds and the membrane. To meet your requirements, you may add them later to the salad, a little at a time.
Canned tuna has brine sitting along with tuna meat. Draining the liquid before adding it to the salad is always a good idea.
Onion and cucumber release liquid when they sit on the counter long. Hence, it is good to practice chopping them just before making them.
How to serve
Pasta. I made this jalapeno tuna pasta salad recipe today to spice up my pasta. It turned out to be our family's recent favorite.
Burger. How can burgers be left out when listing the jalapeno tuna salad recipe? Keep a generous amount as a final topping in the burger.
Sandwich. Another excellent way of enjoying. 4 slices of crisply toasted bread is perfect for the amount mentioned in this recipe.
Wrap. Make a spicy jalapeno tuna wrap with the store-bought tortillas.
Dip. Use a fork to gently break up the clusters of tuna, and serve as a dip for chips or crackers.
Storing idea
- Store the leftovers in an airtight container and use them within 2-3 hours of making. The salad has onion and cucumber. These start oozing out moisture and making the salad runny.
- Immediately refrigerate for the best results.
- I would not recommend freezing this jalapeno tuna salad. The cucumber and onion can spoil the dish when frozen.
Make-ahead
- When planning for a party or for a summer barbeque gathering. Prep all the ingredients by chopping.
- Combine all the liquid ingredients and the cilantro. Seal the container. Keep the vegetables and the tuna in a separate container.
- The ideal way is to combine everything just before serving.
- However, it stays good for up to 1 hour in a moderate climate. So, plan accordingly.
Variations
Shrimp. Add in some cooked shrimp to make a pleasing platter for the party.
Buffalo sauce. Swap hot sauce with buffalo wing sauce to make buffalo tuna salad.
Green onions. Garnish the salad with green onion for a rich taste.
Ground black pepper. Gives an extra kick and gels with the jalapeno.
Lettuce. Add some roughly chopped lettuce for the hot tuna salad sandwich.
Cheddar cheese. Cheddar tops when talking about the cheese variations. Gives an extra flavor and intense taste.
Habanero. Swap jalapeno with habanero for a hot and spicy tuna salad.
Cilantro. Increase the quantity of the cilantro in this recipe. This slight variation results in a whole new hot tuna salad with cilantro.
Spices. Add the Caribbean or Cajun dry spice mix. Half a teaspoon of any one of these spices would be an ideal measure in this recipe.
FAQ
Removing the seeds and membrane decides the spice level. But if you find the salad spicy once you've made it, add more mayo. This could reduce the heat to a certain extent.
Contrary to the above question, some may find the salad not spicy. So, it is always a better practice to reserve the seeds of the jalapeno while cutting to add heat.
If the salad sits on the kitchen counter for a long time, it can turn runny. To prevent this, discard the excess liquid and add some croutons.
Other Jalapeno recipes you may like,
- Jalapeno vinaigrette
- Jalapeno peanut brittle
- Jalapeno pinwheels
- Pineapple jalapeno sauce
- Homemade jalapeno salsa
- Jalapeno recipes
Printable recipe card
Jalapeno tuna salad
Ingredients
- 3 oz canned tuna drained
- 1 jalapeno seeded and finely chopped
- ¼ cup cucumber finely chopped/ salad vegetables
- ½ onion finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- ¼ cup mayo
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
Instructions
- Drain the tuna and set it to ready.
- Cut the jalapeno and remove the seeds and the membrane. Chop them finely.
- Chop cucumber, onion, cilantro finly.
- In a mixing bowl, add drained tuna meat, jalapeno, cucumber, onion, cilantro, hot sauce, mayo, lime juice.
- Mix them gently to combine the ingredients well with each other.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with pasta or as you prefer.
Leave a Reply