Much Ado About Tuna
There is just something about tuna. It is perhaps the one pantry staple common to many kitchen larder cupboard around the world. It’s the one thing I always have in mine, even if I am not in the mood to eat it. Say what? Yes, tuna. It is cheap, healthy, quick and easy, which you know by now is my holy grail of cooking. I grew up on the beautiful tropical Caribbean island of Jamaica and one of the things we face with every year, is the threat of hurricanes. As a result of living with this constant threat for 6 months out of every year, Jamaican government agencies have for decades, developed public education campaigns to encourage the population to always buy extra canned and non-perishable items over time especially leading up to hurricane season, so that even if a terrible storm took us by surprise and electricity was lost for extensive periods, we would be able to eat.
7 GREAT RECIPES FOR CANNED TUNA
It is with that sort of pragmatism that I grew up, and especially so because my own mother has taken a well-stocked pantry as a serious testament of her prudent home economics. Her cupboards are never empty. In addition to Hurricane season. there was the barrel phenomenon that was popular in the 70s, 80s and even 90s, where Jamaicans who had moved to the USA, Canada and the UK would pack barrels of household items clothes, food, toys to send back home. In those barrels were many things that were too expensive to buy in bulk in the island- like canned tuna and canned salmon.
While tuna is not a traditional ingredient in Jamaica, migration and storms have made it more of a staple over the past few decades.
And if you know anything about how we approach food, we never take “precooked” on a label as gospel. We actually re-season and assemble our canned foods taking them from bland to incredibly moreish. We have a saying for that. We say we love to “tea we hand make fashion.” Which means that in hard times, we apply the manual dexterity of our forebears. We get creative.
And that is what some of these recipes will do with canned tuna. We are taking the very mundane canned tuna and transforming it into 7 great recipes for canned tuna that make you actually want to eat and look forward to eating canned tuna. This is not yet another tuna casserole dish- a recipe popular in the USA. Many off these recipes do not require any additional cooking at all so that makes this great for quick, simple, cheap meals while you work from home, are doing homeschooling, or just on lockdown during quarantine.
I thought I would put together a few dishes that are easy for everyone from kids to teenagers to kitchen novices and seasoned cooks with a mission to do the seemingly impossible: jazz up a can of tuna.
Tuna is also high in Omega 3 fatty acids so that it makes it a very heart healthy source of protein and Omega 3s help to keep moods stable and fend off mild to moderate depression so right now, as we are cooped up as chickens in our roosts, we need all the mood boosting benefits we can get.
Presentation is everything
The truth about gourmet food is not that it is any different from regular food, but that much care is made in its presentation. No chef worth his salt just splatters food into slush on a plate. Why? Because we eat first with our eyes. Martha knows that.
She uses a wide array of ingredients, many simple and inexpensive but presents them in a way that makes meals that look fit for kings and queens. That is the care that we ought to take with even the most humble ingredients, because it makes an invitation to yours for a meal a coveted affair.
We will start first with one tuna salad with three different presentations.
Fresh Parsley Tuna Salad
I came up with this recipe to find a way to put together all the flavours that went with tuna but also to ensure that neither you nor your guests will have a “fishy smelling” mouth after eating this salad. Parsley is a natural breath freshener and is the star ingredient here. It holds up very well to the strong flavour of the tuna. This salad is so good you can actually take it to work for lunch.
Here it is with a Low Carb Tortilla, Boston Lettuce and A Thick Slice of Tomato for lunch or breakfast on the go.
Topping cucumber slices is a great way to make this humble salad into a tasty canapé item or a healthy snack for children, teenagers and adults alike.
This Fresh Parsley Tuna Salad is also great as a dip for homemade pita chips (made by cutting Arabic bread into wedges and toasting with a little salt and olive oil) or a thinly sliced toasted small French Baguette.
Other Great Recipes for Canned Tuna
Spicy Tuna Fritters
Spicy Tuna Fritters – This is where a spring roll meets a fritter, somewhere in the realm of higher fibre. In other words, this is how you use leftovers to create a great fusion dish that everyone can enjoy and even add some nutrition to an otherwise empty calorie high carb dish. It is delicious enough to serve as a starter for a dinner party and still practical enough as an everyday meal. This is a spin off from Jamaican Salted Cod Fritters, or Stamp and Go. Traditionally, it is made with salted cod and lots of fresh spices but since we are singing arias to tuna, cod has no place here!
Tuna Salad, Two Ways (2 recipes) This post has two separate recipes for tuna salads that have become my superbly healthy fast food options and quicker to make that you can actually order takeaway. Though, if you have the means to do so, please order from restaurants to to help save the industry, which is severely affected by the worldwide shutdowns. Many restaurants are very small and family owned and as one who works in the the food and hospitality sector, I have literally seen my income dry up overnight.
This is yet a third variation of the two salads above, using the same three base ingredients but only with a change to the seasoning/dressing. This dressing is self stable and so a great one to have in these times.
Lesli Schwartz says
I sure have a lot of tuna in my pantry these days, so I really appreciate this post! So tired of the same-old same-old tuna salad!
Chef and Steward says
You will especially love the tuna fritters then!
Veena Azmanov says
Thanks for the awesome recipes. Best time to try making Homemade stuff. Delicious Tuna always.
Chef and Steward says
Yes, that is one great thing about the world being forced to stay home is that we get to all cook together!
Amy says
This is such a helpful post! I know pretty much everyone has at least a few cans of tuna kicking around the back of their pantry, but most people have no idea what to do with it. Thanks for the fun and delicious tips!
Chef and Steward says
Awwww thanks so much! I am happy to be able to provide solutions for the dilemma of what to cook- AGAIN!
mriveraediblesense says
Tons of people are relying on tuna nowadays. This is a great list of tuna recipes to have.
Chef and Steward says
Thanks so much and yes! Tuna is making a comeback!
Stine Mari says
This list of tuna recipes came just at the right time! I know a lot of people have canned tuna now, and this is super helpful.
Jere Cassidy says
It’s always good to have canned tuna recipes for quick lunches and snacks. Thanks for making this post.
Chef and Steward says
So happy to help make things a little more practical!
Chef and Steward says
Thanks much!
GUNJAN C Dudani says
I am a vegetarian and don’t eat Tuna but this is such a cute post with cute images. I shared your blog with my SIL . She is going to make it tonight.
Chef and Steward says
Thanks for being able to be kind enough to share it with someone who would find it useful. Very much appreciated.
Analida Braeger says
I am always looking for great tuna recipes during Lent. I can’t wait to try these!
Chef and Steward says
So pleased to be able to add a few more to your recipe box!
Jacqui DeBono says
Tuna is my go-to for lunches, quick and easy weeknight meals and salads. I especially want to try the spicy tuna fritters!
Chef and Steward says
Yes, quick and easy weeknight meals and lunches are so essential and these days the need for simplicity cannot be greater.
Amy Liu Dong says
I love these lists of tuna recipes, it’s easy and quick and delicious. I am so excited to make this for everyone.
Chef and Steward says
And they are going to love you for it! Happy tuna feasting!
Manila Spoon says
Where do I begin? What a delicious collection and that spicy tuna fritters totally caught my eye!
Chef and Steward says
This was a recipe I first developed for and was published in a magazine and it has stood the test of time!
Sondra Barker says
These are some great ideas for what to make with something most of us have in the pantry, thanks so much for sharing!
Chef and Steward says
Happy to help Sondra. This is the least I can do to help.
Femi.O says
I love my tuna and sandwiches but I tend not to usetuna in much else outside that. I’m glad for this great list which gives me a couple of new ideas to try out especially on that tomato!
Chef and Steward says
You will love the new additions to your tuna repertoire!
Jenni says
These tuna recipe all look delicious and will come in handy so much during these times! I love how flexible and fun tuna can be!
Chef and Steward says
Yes absolutely. Thanks much!
Jacque Hastert says
Thank you for sharing these recipes! I have a ton of canned tuna and get tired of the same recipe all the time!
Chef and Steward says
Happy to help with new ones to try!
Aline says
Yes!! Thanks for all the inspiration!! I have tons of canned tuna and was having a hard time thinking beyond tuna salad!! Awesome list!
Chef and Steward says
You will really like the spicy tuna fritters then!
Kacey Perez says
So thankful for this recipe we make it during meal prep on Sundays and eat it throughout the week! It is a classic that we continue to enjoy!
Chef and Steward says
Geode so!
ramonascuisine says
I love canned tuna, it is such a versatile ingredient and saves us from too much cooking – perfect for that quick healthy meal that I need nowadays with so much WFH going on. Really love your selection here.
muchbutter says
Thank you for the inspiration for using canned tuna! I have several cans at home and sometimes I run out of ideas.
Lathiskitchen says
Wow, what an amazing collection. Each one sounds great and I love to try Tuna fritters.