You Added Too Much Mayonnaise To Your Tuna Salad. Now What? - Tasting Table (2024)

ByStephanie Friedman/

One of the perks of making tuna salad is that it's easily customizable. Want more crunch? Throw in some mix-ins like red onion, pickles, or fennel. Want to swap out the mayo? Use Greek yogurt, vegan mayo, or avocado instead. You can even switch up the way you chop your vegetables, drain your tuna, or fluff your fish.

In fact, this dish is so flexible that it's difficult to pin down exactly what ingredients and proportions you should use. So if you go a little crazy with the mayo, we totally understand; an overly creamy salad is probably tastier than a dry one, after all. But if you find yourself about to dig into a bowl that's more mayo than anything else, know that you don't have to toss it out. There are quite a few ways to salvage an overly rich tuna salad, so it's highly likely you'll find one that tastes good to you.

Add strong flavors and a crunchy element

You Added Too Much Mayonnaise To Your Tuna Salad. Now What? - Tasting Table (2)

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The simplest way to balance out too much mayo in your tuna salad is to add more of the flavor and texture-contrasting ingredients. To offset the creaminess (and potentially wetness) of too much mayo, try adding in more of whatever crunchy element you were using. Celery and red onion are some of the most common ones, but you can also try chopped red peppers, bacon bits, carrots, cabbage, apples, chopped nuts, and more. If you already went heavy on the onion and don't want to add any more, just switch it up and use another crunchy ingredient, tossing in a little at a time until you're satisfied with the bowl's texture.

And while we love mayo for its mild tangy flavor, too much of a good thing can leave your tuna salad a little bland. To fix this, simply pour in more strongly-flavored ingredients. Red onion can be a two-in-one deal here, fixing both flavor and texture, but it's not the only option. Spices like lemon pepper, curry powder, and powdered mustard may do the trick, or you can try upping the heat with hot sauce, jalapenos, or cayenne pepper. Or, go for a little sour flavor in the form of lemon juice or zest, pickle juice, or lime juice.

So if you've overpowered your tuna salad with mayo, all hope is not lost — just one or two extra ingredients can make all the difference.

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You Added Too Much Mayonnaise To Your Tuna Salad. Now What? - Tasting Table (2024)

FAQs

You Added Too Much Mayonnaise To Your Tuna Salad. Now What? - Tasting Table? ›

To offset the creaminess (and potentially wetness) of too much mayo, try adding in more of whatever crunchy element you were using. Celery and red onion are some of the most common ones, but you can also try chopped red peppers, bacon bits, carrots, cabbage, apples, chopped nuts, and more.

How do you cut the fishy taste in tuna salad? ›

To prevent the strong fish flavor of your tuna salad from overpowering the other ingredients, add a spoonful of sugar to the mix. This will diminish the more pungent flavors.

How do you cut saltiness in tuna salad? ›

After you've rinsed the tuna in a strainer, if it still tastes too salty, the next step is to add an acid or sweetener. Depending on your recipes, the acid can be lemon juice, lime juice, apple cider vinegar or even tomato sauce or tomato paste. The acid in these will help neutralize the saltiness.

What can I replace mayonnaise with in tuna? ›

One thing is clear: You can swap out mayo for many tasty alternatives.
  • Greek yogurt makes for a protein-rich tuna salad. ...
  • Vegan mayo creates an eggless tuna salad. ...
  • Turn your tuna salad green with avocado. ...
  • Go simple with olive oil. ...
  • Switch things up with hummus. ...
  • Aioli is not just flavored mayo. ...
  • Get cheesy with cottage cheese.
Jan 2, 2023

How to make tuna taste good without mayo reddit? ›

Make a tuna salad with fusilli, lettuce, corn, mushrooms and olives. Mix the juice of one lemon, a spoonful of olive oil, a few heaping squeezes of Dijon mustard, salt and pepper to taste as a dressing.

How to get rid of the fishy taste in canned tuna? ›

This can be done by cooking the fish in foil or by adding other ingredients to the recipe that will help to mask the strong fishy taste of the fish. Also, you can marinate the fish in a mixture of lemon juice, vinegar, and water for 30 minutes. This will help to neutralize the fishy taste.

How do you fix too much mayo in tuna salad? ›

And while we love mayo for its mild tangy flavor, too much of a good thing can leave your tuna salad a little bland. To fix this, simply pour in more strongly-flavored ingredients. Red onion can be a two-in-one deal here, fixing both flavor and texture, but it's not the only option.

How to balance oversalting? ›

Add a Sweetener. Similarly, try adding a touch of sweetness to counteract a too-briny sauce or stir-fry. Brown sugar or maple syrup will add a distinctive caramel-y flavor to your dish, which might work well. If a more neutral sweetness is desired, stick with granulated sugar.

Why does my tuna salad taste bland? ›

Sometimes, the reason can be a simple one: There's no acid in your salad to balance the richness of the mayonnaise and the saltiness of the tuna. Acid is a key ingredient to pair with any kind of seafood or fish; in this case, it adds a needed brightness to your salad.

What is the healthiest tuna fish to eat? ›

Choosing pole-and-line-caught light skipjack tuna is your best choice for a low mercury and sustainable option. White albacore tuna is best if you're looking for more protein and omega-3 fats with every bite.

What fish is a good substitute for tuna? ›

What Fish Is Most Similar to Tuna?
  • Sardines. Sardines should be at the top of your list of alternatives for tuna for protein. ...
  • Mackerel. Mackerel is a guilt-free substitute for tuna. ...
  • Anchovies. Anchovies are known as umami flavor bombs. ...
  • Kippers. Kippers are relatively low in calories and cholesterol.
Apr 21, 2023

What makes tuna taste better? ›

🐟🌶️ Try these genius tips to elevate the flavor of canned tuna like never before! 🤩💥 👉 Mix in some sriracha or hot sauce for a spicy kick! 🌶️🔥 👉 Add freshly squeezed lemon juice for a tangy twist! 🍋😋 👉 Sprinkle in some dried herbs like dill or parsley to enhance the taste!

How do you mask the taste of canned tuna? ›

The Absolute Best Additions To Canned Tuna
  1. Chop up some fresh herbs. WS-Studio/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Raid the pantry. ...
  3. Spice things up. ...
  4. Add a squeeze of lemon juice. ...
  5. Take advantage of the produce aisle. ...
  6. Keep it classic with mayonnaise. ...
  7. If mayo is a no-go, try sour cream or lebneh. ...
  8. Raise the temperature with hot sauce.
Jul 9, 2022

Which canned tuna tastes less fishy? ›

Albacore is firm and meaty, with a light, mild flavor. Yellowfin and skipjack are a bit softer and have a richer, more intense taste. The choice comes down to personal preference: If you like a less “fishy” tuna experience, go for white tuna; if you want stronger flavor, light tuna is a better choice.

How to make tuna taste less fishy reddit? ›

The best I have come up with is drained can, a tiny splash of soy sauce, a drip of hoisin, everything but the bagel seasoning (mostly for the sesame seeds and garlic), salt and pepper, usually eaten on a cracker.

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