For much of my life, I thought making tuna salad wasn’t for me. While I love raw tuna in sushi, or seared tuna on salads, canned tuna presented a problem: mayonnaise. I’ve always had an anti-mayo stance, and finding a tuna salad made without mayo (and I’m including vegan mayo and mayo-like alternatives in this category) felt impossible.
Then I learned about tuna in olive oil. Sold in cans and jars, tuna packaged in olive oil swaps out the typical water-based brine in processed tuna for olive oil, which can be used in dishes with the tuna. Using olive oil to make tuna salad felt revolutionary, and perfect for my tastes. It also opened up an idea for a new concept to me: pesto tuna salad.
Why You Should Use Pesto to Make Tuna Salad
Mixing pesto (be it homemade or store-bought) with tuna in olive oil adds bright flavor to every bite, and the tuna salad itself is versatile enough to make a sandwich with, enjoy on crackers, or mix with pasta for a fun pasta salad.
What’s So Great About Tonnino Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil?
When it comes to buying tuna, my go-to is Tonnino for its high-quality yellowfin and olive oil that I incorporate into my tuna recipes. The tuna is seasoned but not too salty, and the jarred tuna is packaged in nice vertical fillets (which can be smashed into smaller pieces or enjoyed in their full slices). The 6-ounce jar contains two servings of tuna. They also offer tuna in olive oil in a can.
I also like that Tonnino is committed to sustainability and traceability. A code on every package allows you to find when and where it was fished out of the ocean, which feels like a responsible thing to know.
What’s the Best Way to Enjoy Tonnino Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil?
Emptying the entire jar of tuna into a bowl and adding two or three tablespoons of pesto makes the perfect tuna salad for all seasons. If you’re against mixing cheese and fish, vegan pesto is a great swap here.
My favorite pesto tuna salad combo is a caprese-inspired tuna melt: I combine the pesto tuna salad with sliced tomatoes, and then melt mozzarella on top. It’s a fun way to put a new spin on common flavors and get some protein in. I’ve also loved pesto tuna mixed with short pasta and extra pesto, plus sliced cherry tomatoes and fresh basil for a nice pasta salad.
Buy: Tonnino Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil, $6.97 for 6.7 ounces at Amazon
What’s your favorite tuna brand? Tell us about it in the comments below.
