The Unexpected Ingredient You Should Put In Tuna Salad
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once said during an episode of his eponymous hit television series "Seinfeld" that the entire concept of lunch is built on tuna (via Reddit). Outside of sushi and high-end tuna steak dishes, perhaps the most popular use of the seafood is in salad form, mixed with a variety of other proteins, vegetables, fruits, nuts, dressings, and sauces. True to Seinfeld's words, tuna is insanely popular.
About Seafood says that the United States is the world's second-largest consumer of tuna, eating nearly a third of the global supply, and also notes that nearly one in four Americans eat tuna at least once a week. Given that rate of consumption, it's easy for tuna salad to get boring and mundane. If you're making one of these 10 common tuna salad preparation mistakes, that could make the dish even less appetizing for you. However, there are ways to literally spice your tuna salad up.
Recently, Eater featured a suggestion toward that end you may not have considered. It's one you probably won't regret trying, though.
Give your tuna salad a South Asian twist
Eater Austin editor Nadia Chaudhury — whose family runs legendary specialty food market Kalustyan's — recommends adding coriander chutney to tuna salad. Fans of Asian, Indian, and Middle Eastern food are likely already familiar with coriander, which is often found in dishes throughout those diverse cuisines. Chutney is an essential element of Indian cooking. The versatile condiment is "made from fruits, vegetables, and/or herbs with vinegar, sugar, and spices" according to Madhur Jaffrey for Masterclass. The Better India explains how chutney is a staple in Indian cuisine and chutney featuring coriander as a primary ingredient is common.
Chaudhury calls her tuna salad with coriander chutney "kickass" and says it's great for sandwiches. If you'd like to try this inspired take yourself but are uncertain of how to get started with tuna salad, a basic tuna salad recipe is a terrific canvas for more adventurous add-ins. Should you be in an extremely "DIY" mood, Food.com has a recipe you can follow to make your own coriander chutney, too. For those who would like to skip that work and simply mix pre-made chutney in, The Better India has some recommendations for the best brands to look for.
For another unique twist, try eating your coriander chutney-infused tuna salad with naan instead of sliced sandwich bread. Using creative ingredients like coriander chutney, your tuna salad routine will be far less likely to bore you.