NO MAYO SPICY TUNA SALAD
on Feb 28, 2025
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In need of a lunch that will keep you satisfied without weighing you down? This tuna salad is quick to prepare and packed with different flavors.
I may be a huge fan of chicken salad (just scan my blog for inspo), but I really don’t discriminate. Egg salad, fruit salad, and regular ol’ salad are all up for the taking in my opinion!
Today I’m sharing a No Mayo Spicy Tuna Salad that’s a great meal prep option for quick and healthy weekday lunches.
The key to making any salad that you’ll actually want to eat is to fill it with lots of different flavors and textures. This tuna salad has crunchy roasted almonds, crisp celery, fresh cilantro, spicy pickled jalapeños, and mild green onion.
To bind it all together, I opted for dairy-free coconut yogurt rather than mayo.
Scoop this spicy tuna salad into a butter lettuce cup and you’ll have a delicious lunch that’s protein-packed and crave-worthy as well.
Do you have a favorite salad you’d like me to recreate? Let me know over on my Instagram, @olivia.adriance. Enjoy!
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Ingredients for No Mayo Tuna Salad
All of my salads are easy to make and use staple pantry and fridge ingredients This tuna salad is no different! Here’s what you’ll need.
- Canned Tuna: I like to use wild-caught canned white albacore tuna. I like the @seatales_usa brand. You can also use pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken.
- Coconut Yogurt: I used @cocojune coconut yogurt which has a mild flavor. Greek yogurt would also work here and add additional protein too! Or of course, use mayo if you prefer.
- Sriracha: @yellowbirdsauce is my go-to brand for sriracha. It has cleaner ingredients than the typical sriracha and a great flavor!
Pin this recipe for later!
Pin It- Unseasoned Rice Vinegar: This brightens up the dish and adds a bit of lightness to the mayo-free tuna salad.
- Celery: A must in tuna salad, celery adds crunch and freshness.
- Almonds: Chopped roasted almonds are an unexpected textural element and add some healthy fats as well.
- Cilantro: If cilantro isn’t your fave, feel free to omit and substitute for another herb like parsley.
- Green Onion: I love adding green onion to salads since it adds a nice touch of color and isn’t as overwhelming as raw white or red onion.
- Pickled Jalapeños: Kinda spicy but not overpowering, these add a bit of a punch.
- Sesame Seeds: Not necessary, but a few sesame seeds on top is a nice finish.
- Butter Lettuce: This is nature’s handheld cup! Butter lettuce is soft and flexible making it the perfect vessel for a large scoop of salad.
How to Make Spicy Tuna Salad
First, drain the tuna and add it to a medium-sized bowl. Gently mash with a fork to loosen up.
Add the coconut yogurt, sriracha, and rice vinegar. Mash together. Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Mix in the sliced celery, roasted almonds, cilantro, green onion, and pickled jalapeños.
I like to serve this salad in butter lettuce cups, but it would also be delicious on a sandwich or wrap. Garnish with some sesame seeds and enjoy!
More Easy High-Protein Lunch Recipes:
- Waldorf Chicken Salad (Dairy-Free & No Mayo)
- Asian Chicken Salad
- Rotisserie Chicken Caesar Lettuce Cups
- Miso Tuna Salad Handrolls
- Lemony Dill Quinoa and Shrimp
NO MAYO SPICY TUNA SALAD
Ingredients
- (4) 5-ounce cans of tuna
- ¾ cup plain, unsweetened coconut yogurt (I used Cocojune Coconut Yogurt)
- ¼ cup sriracha (I used Yellow Bird)
- 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ cup celery, thinly sliced
- ½ cup roasted almonds, chopped
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- ⅓ cup green onion, chopped
- ⅓ cup pickled jalapeños, chopped
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
- Butter lettuce, for serving
Instructions
- Drain the tuna and add to a medium-sized bowl. Gently mash with a fork to loosen up.
- Add the coconut yogurt, sriracha, and rice vinegar.
- Mash together and taste. Adding salt and pepper as needed.
- Mix in the sliced celery, roasted almonds, cilantro, green onion, and pickled jalapeños.
- Serve by scooping into butter lettuce cups and garnish with sesame seeds. Enjoy!
