My 1-Ingredient Upgrade for Better Tuna Salad (It’s My Favorite)

I grew up on tuna salad. My mom made it the “classic” Midwestern way, flaking canned tuna into a bowl and tossing it with mayonnaise, pickle relish, and a bit of black pepper. She’d serve it on soda crackers, never anything else, with a side of chips and maybe some carrots. It was simple and delicious. I still make it the same way for my daughter, but we don’t mind giving new versions a try. That’s how we started adding diced pimento to our tuna salad.

Since I’m a recipe developer, my family is pretty used to me experimenting with their favorite dishes. Sometimes, they like this, but often, they don’t. One day, I was making tuna salad when suddenly a thought came to mind. I had recently wrapped up a project with jarred pimento and thought, “Hmm, that would be good in tuna salad.” It turned out to be the best decision.

How I Make Pimento Tuna Salad

Pimento is known for its little pop of sweetness and stunning bright red color, which I felt would make it a fantastic addition to my usual tuna salad recipe. I pulled the jar out of the refrigerator, scooped a tablespoon, and added it to my tuna. My daughter watched the whole thing happen and was shockingly supportive of the experimentation. We both tried it and agreed it was a delicious modification.

Ready to give it a try? Stir one or two tablespoons of mayonnaise in the bottom of a bowl with a tablespoon each of chopped dill pickle and drained jarred pimento. Drain a five-ounce can of skipjack or light tuna then flake it into a bowl. Toss everything gently to combine. Season with black pepper and enjoy on bread or crackers.

Tips for Making My Tuna Salad

• Make it the day before. Like so many other dishes, this tuna salad tastes better the next day. The extra time gives the ingredients a chance to meld so that every bite is delicious and flavorful. Cover and refrigerate one day in advance. Give it a stir before eating and serve as desired. 
• Double the batch. Once everyone sees your tuna salad, they’ll all want some, so you might as well make extra. Luckily, it’s an easy recipe to double or even triple. 
• Customize it. Adding pimento is a fun way to easily add more joy to your tuna salad, but it’s just the beginning. If you have lemon juice, add a splash of that. Garlic powder? Throw a pinch in there! How about hot sauce? A little dash would be lovely!