Yields: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: At least 30 minutes (recommended)
Ingredients
Tuna
- 2 (5-ounce) cans of tuna in olive oil, drained (or water-packed tuna with an extra drizzle of olive oil)
Veggies
- ½ cup chopped cucumber (seeded for less moisture)
- ½ cup chopped red onion
- ½ cup chopped red bell pepper
- ½ cup pitted and halved Kalamata olives
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Flavor Boosters
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
Dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Optional additions
- ½ cup cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
- Crumbled feta cheese
- Chopped fresh dill
Instructions
1. Prep the Veggies: Chop the cucumber, red onion, red bell pepper, and parsley. Halve the Kalamata olives.
2. Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, oregano, salt, and pepper.
3. Combine the Salad: In a large bowl, gently flake the tuna with a fork. Add the chopped vegetables, olives, capers, and minced garlic.
4. Dress the Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together until evenly coated.
5. Chill: Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes. This allows the flavors to blend and the salad to chill.
6. Optional Additions: Right before serving, consider adding cooked chickpeas and/or crumbled feta cheese for extra texture and flavor. Add a sprinkle of chopped dill for a fresh touch.
7. Serve and Enjoy! Serve your chilled Mediterranean Tuna Salad with crackers, on a bed of lettuce, tucked into pita bread, or as part of a larger salad plate.
Tips
Tuna Choice: For the richest flavor, use tuna packed in olive oil. If using water-packed tuna, add an extra tablespoon or two of olive oil to the salad.
Make it Ahead: This salad tastes even better after it’s chilled for a few hours or overnight. It keeps well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Adjust to Your Taste: Customize the ingredients based on your preferences. Add other chopped vegetables, use a different herb blend, or adjust the dressing’s tanginess.
