Simple Mediterranean Tuna Salad (Printable)

Fresh tuna salad with crisp vegetables, olives, and tangy lemon dressing ready in 15 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 cans (5 oz each) tuna in olive oil, drained

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
04 - 1/4 red onion, finely sliced
05 - 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
06 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Add-Ins

07 - 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
08 - 1/4 cup capers, rinsed

→ Dressing

09 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
10 - Juice of 1 lemon
11 - 1 garlic clove, minced
12 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, add the drained tuna and flake gently with a fork.
02 - Add cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, roasted red peppers, parsley, olives, and capers to the bowl.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper until well combined.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients.
05 - Gently toss to combine, ensuring everything is evenly coated.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
07 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours for flavors to meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in literally fifteen minutes, which means dinner is ready before you can even order takeout.
  • The flavors somehow get even better after a few hours in the fridge, making it perfect for meal prep or accidental leftovers.
02 -
  • The salad can get watery if you let it sit for more than a few hours, so keep the dressing separate if you are meal-prepping for several days.
  • Red onion can be aggressive, so if you are sensitive to that raw bite, soak the sliced onion in cold water for ten minutes before adding it to the bowl.
03 -
  • Invest in decent tuna, the difference between budget and quality brands is genuinely noticeable in a simple recipe like this.
  • Let the salad rest for at least fifteen minutes before serving to let all those Mediterranean flavors get friendly with each other.

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