Warm Tuna Salad
This Warm Easy Tuna Salad Recipe is a comforting, quick, nutritious, and budget friendly recipe idea, perfect for the changing seasons! Grab a fork and dig in, or enjoy it in a sandwich or with some chips and dip.
*This post was first published in September of 2015. It has been edited and is being republished today.
Do you happen to remember Rachel Ray’s “$40 A Day” that used to air on the Food Network a few moons ago?
In it, Rachel Ray would visit a city and eat at some of the local hot spots – all for $40 a day or less! I, personally, loved that show!
I mean travelling vicariously through her excursions to all those cities was pretty amazing all by itself.
However, I always thought $40 a day for one person was kind of high.
When my daughter and I visit a city, we usually try and stick to a $40 a day budget for the both of us. Now, we don’t usually eat at any super pricey places. And, very often, we like to stay at a hotel that offers a free breakfast.
So, it’s just 2 meals or one meal and snacks that we try to keep at or below $40. Over the years, my daughter and I have been blessed to travel through Disney, the Pacific North West, California, New York, Italy, Abu Dhabi and London. And through most of our sojourns, we’ve managed to stick to this budget.
Of course, $40 a day for the both of us still gave us a lot more wiggle room I had when I lived on a $40 a week budget during my college years!
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Back during my college years, canned tuna played a big roll in helping me stick to my then budget of $40 a week. And it was a delicious way to add lean protein, healthy fats, and important vitamins and minerals to my diet.
In spring there were jalapenos stuffed with tuna. In summer, there was cold tuna salad on a cold baked potato (this sounds weird, but it is just so good). In fall there were tuna pasta bakes very similar to this Salmon Pasta. And in winter, there was warm tuna salad – like I have here today.
How to make Warm Tuna Salad?
This warm tuna salad is super easy to whip up:
• You are going to start by sauteing some onions, garlic and ginger.
• Then you are going add in some chopped celery, mustard seeds and tuna as well as some warming and aromatic spices like cumin, paprika, and turmeric.
• After that you are going to add in the red cabbage. You don’t want to cook the cabbage too long as it will loose it’s vibrant red color if cooked too long.
• Then you will add in the sesame seeds and lemon juice and this salad is ready to be devoured!
Grab a fork and dig into a bowl of this warm tuna salad. Or, grab some celery, chips or homemade crackers and dig into this war tuna salad.
All in all, I think this is a versatile, super easy, budget friendly, and nutritious dish and I hope you do too!
Ingredients
- 1 onion chopped
- 1/2 inch piece of ginger chopped or grated
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 12 oz container canned Tuna in water I used Bumble Bee
- 3 stalks celery chopped
- 1/2 cup red cabbage chopped
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a frying pan over a medium flame
- Add the chopped onion, garlic and ginger and saute till onion is translucent – about 10 minutes. Make sure to stir often so onions, ginger and garlic don’t burn.
- Add the mustard seeds into the mix and saute about a minute more.
- Then add the chopped celery, tuna, and turmeric, cumin, paprika and salt and stir well
- Add in the sesame seeds and saute a minute or so
- Add the cabbage and stir well and let cook (stirring frequently) for about 2-3 minutes
- Take off the heat and stir in the lemon juice
- Enjoy warm as a salad, or use as a dip – it is delicious with celery or chips!
Video
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Nutrition
If you are looking for more warm / sautéed salads, then check out this Warm Lentil Salad and this Leek & Bacon Sautéed Salad.
This Warm Easy Tuna Salad sounds absolutely delicious and perfect for a quick meal! I love that it’s budget-friendly too. Can’t wait to try it out and maybe add some of my favorite veggies for extra flavor. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
This warm tuna salad recipe sounds delicious and so easy to make! I love how it’s budget-friendly too—perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Can’t wait to try it out! Thanks for sharing this gem!
I absolutely loved this warm tuna salad recipe! It’s not only delicious but also so easy to make. I appreciate how budget-friendly it is too! Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Thank you for sharing!
This tuna salad recipe looks amazing! I love how simple and budget-friendly it is. Can’t wait to try it for a quick lunch this week! Thanks for sharing such a delicious idea!
I made this warm tuna salad for lunch today, and it was so satisfying! The combination of warm tuna, fresh veggies, and the light dressing is perfect. I love that it’s a healthier option but still so flavorful. The warmth of the tuna really elevates the dish, making it feel like a hearty meal rather than a typical salad. I added some avocado on top for a bit of creaminess, and it was delicious!
This warm easy tuna salad recipe looks fantastic! I love how budget-friendly it is too. Can’t wait to try it for a quick weeknight dinner. Thanks for sharing such a delicious and simple meal idea!
Just tried ‘tis recipe and found it to be delicious as well as easy to prepare and chocked full of protein and veggies! I served it with cooked wild rice and enjoyed my dinner!
YUM! I love tuna but always shy away from making it. Going to give this recipe a try:)
A quick, simple and super tasty tuna salad ! I truly love canned tuna and love the look of this dish. Very tempting. Thank you for the recipe.
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Thanks so much!
I do love this warm tuna salad. I too remember food in college. At the end of the month it was spaghetti with ketchup packets for sauce. 🙂
Maureen – spaghetti wasn’t big with me – but Ramen noodles were! 🙂
Not sure if I am more impressed with the $40 a day for two while traveling or having $40 a week while in college for food. This is a fantastic recipe. Beautiful photos too.
Thanks so much Michelle!
So many delicious flavors in this simple salad! Never would have thought to use canned tuna to make a warm salad, but it looks great!
Thanks so much Jessica!
Oh hells yes, this looks delicious! <3 I think I may actually have all the ingredients for it back at my friend's farm! *-* I'll definitely have to give it a try! <3
Thanks so much Farrah – this was a staple for me during my college years!
I’ve never tried warm tuna salad, but I love the sound of this!
Thanks so much Jeanette
i dont eat tuna as much but now this is tempting me.
Thanks so much Dixya – hope you are doing well
This is my kinda tuna salad!!! It looks so good!!! Totally craving some right now!
Thanks bunches Rebecca
Gorgeous colours and lighting in these photos, Shashi! What a coincidence that we both talked about college years in our post this week!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more colourful and interesting-sounding tuna salad.
I love your thoughts about a travel food budget, too. My husband and I like to do that, too! 🙂
Haha – yes – what a coincidence indeed – though none of my stores rival your maggot one! 🙂
Btw thanks so much Helen!
My dad is such a tuna salad fan so I’m sending him this recipe!
Thanks so much Pamela
Wow, wow, wow! So much yes to this warm, vibrant, delicious and flavorful salad. Love all the awesome spices you added in this salad.
Thanks so much Anu!
I always thought the same thing, Shashi! $40 a day for food!? That’s like when I worked in the corporate rat race and they would give reimburse us like $55 a day for food when we were traveling. With awesome recipes like this, I could eat for far less…and then use the remaining dough on something fun. And now I’m craving tuna salad for lunch today…this is the perfect Fall lunch!
I’m in that corporate rat race still – a coworker was just telling me how she saves up her per diems and takes her nephew someplace nice for dinner every now and then – so sweet I thought! With lil Shashi, Im out of the running for the per diem jobs which is just fine with me – nothing like your own home!
Btw – thanks David, my college years were filled with tuna and ramen and tofu in all shapes and forms – tofu pudding for dessert? 🙂
I really need to find more ways to use canned tuna, and made it look BANGIN’ here!! I love that this is warm too…perfect for lunchin’ today! Pinned!
Thanks so much Taylor! Hope you are having a bangin time with all them DATES! 🙂
I love canned tuna, such an easy and tasty way to get lots of protein and healthy fats! This salad looks so good, love the flavors in this! yum!
Thanks bunches y’all!
So very colourful and appetizing! I love all the spices you have added here.
Thanks so much Angie!
It must be a great to be able to stick to that budget and eat well. I love tuna salad, and this one sounds great 🙂
Yes – it sure is, Tandy! Thanks so much!