Pepperoncini Tuna Salad
Updated Oct. 12, 2023
- Total Time
- 10 minutes
- Prep Time
- 5 minutes
- Cook Time
- 5 minutes
- Rating
- Notes
- Read community notes
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Ingredients
Yield:2 servings
- 2(5-ounce) cans tuna (preferably stored in oil), very well drained
- ¼cup mild-tasting mayonnaise, such as Hellmann’s
- 3tablespoons chopped pepperoncini plus 1 tablespoon brine, plus more of each to taste
- 1tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 1tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- ½garlic clove, finely grated
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1cup thinly sliced celery (from 2 stalks)
- Croissants (optional), split, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (2 servings)
462 calories; 34 grams fat; 6 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 17 grams polyunsaturated fat; 12 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 4 grams sugars; 29 grams protein; 912 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Powered byPreparation
- Step 1
In a medium bowl, combine the tuna, mayonnaise, pepperoncini and its brine, sweet relish, sesame oil and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.
- Step 2
Stir vigorously with a fork, breaking up the tuna into fine threads. Fold in the celery, then taste and add more salt, pepper, pepperoncini and pepperoncini brine to your taste. Stuff into croissants for sandwiches, if you’d like.
Private Notes
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Cooking Notes
NETime
Pepperoncini yes! We love those in tuna salad. But sweet pickle relish absolutely ruins any food it touches. I think this sandwich would be lovely if you left it out.
qatburger
This is basically a great tuna salad, but the sesame oil adds an unusual (and somewhat off-putting) flavor that overwhelms the pepperonici — and isn't that the star of this salad? Will definitely make it again, but without the sesame oil.
MEH
A tablespoon of toasted sesame oil is too much.
Mel
Added pickled red onions and brine in lieu of celery. Yum.
Jesse
Great recipe, but definitely use dill pickle relish over sweet.
JeffM
Next time I’d reduce the amount of sesame oil
DW
Replace the sesame oil with a couple tablespoons of sunflower seeds. I’ve been adding them to my tuna salad for years. I prefer salted.
Karen G
The sesame oil is a strong flavor. I started with about half Tbs. and left it at that (and I love toasted sesame oil).
Sharon J
This is terrific. Perhaps add sesame oil slowly to taste.
Arin
Loved this as a twist on the classic tuna salad! So quick and easy. I ended up more than doubling the Pepperoncini and brine to get more crunch, zing, and spice, but that might be a bit too much spice for some! Had it on brioche and with chips, but could picture this going well over rice or salad with some furikake too! This will be added to the summer meal rotation for sure.
monikanyc
This one didn't do it for us. We love pepperoncini with anything, but the sesame oil dominated everything (and I was very sparing with it). We had to add a lot more pepperoncini and brine to try to counteract that. I will keep using pepperoncini, but not this recipe, sadly.
Brian
A good food-sanitation tip for any tuna salad is to refrigerate the unopened cans or jars of tuna ahead of time, if you can remember to put them in the fridge at least a few hours before you start making the salad. Chilling the tuna makes it harder for bacteria to get a foothold when you mix the fish with the mayonnaise and other ingredients.
Roland-Louis
Skip the celery (if that's not your jam) and instead skin and seed a cucumber then chop it into 1/4” chunks, and toss with a finely diced onion in salt. Macerate the two together for 30 mins before squeezing the water with your hands, and fold it into the salad as you would the celery. Delicious!
jennifer
Dill relish all the way!
kamcrowe
What would be a good substitute for the Mayo?
JoyM
Used 2/3 of a teaspoon of sesame seed oil in place of a tablespoon which added a hint of nuttiness without it overwhelming-tripled the garlic (the tuna can take it) and added green onions. Also added extra celery for crunch and added sliced cucumbers to the bottom of the sandwich—added so much crunch and freshness!
Nicole
This is so good. The sesame oil sets it apart from the others!!
Gabrielle
A great add is sprinkling some Japanese sansho pepper powder, if you have it!
Jessie
Dill relish and left out the sesame oil. I was so glad for a totally different flavor idea for canned tuna!
Jessie
Dill pickle relish and left out the sesame oil. I loved it!
Holly
Sub chicken for tuna
rickmac
This was a GREAT tuna-forward (thankfully mayo plays a supporting role) salad recipe! Absolutely delicious as followed. My only addition at the end was to add a layer of potato chips atop the tuna salad before closing the sandwich. Perfection! And YES to the toasted sesame oil. The hubby came into the kitchen and was drawn to the bowl as I was preparing and couldn’t put his finger on what smelled so good. After a spoonful, my tuna salad sammich became his tuna salad sammich. Thanks, Eric!
Elyse McC
Loved this! Have made it with and without sesame oil, both are good but sesame should be a little more sparing and to taste. I use bread and butter pickles that I mince myself, I really like this. Really good on ciabatta rolls too!
Jenny
We always make tuna salad with chopped pepperoncinis & brine, but we use double the amount listed here. Also used canned albacore in water. Add in yellow mustard. DELETE sweet relish (bleh). A dash of jarred italian dressing. Mayo of course. Salt, pepper, diced celery stalk, 1/4 c. minced onion.
Holly
I was starving after gym and forgot celery and wasn’t going to use mayo so I didn’t fully drain my tuna used yellowfin some of the oil, chopped the pepperoncini added brine some sea salt mixed it and devoured it like a heathen on its own and it was worth it.
Dos Cinco
Love pepperoncini but this recipe demands choppedFresno peppers
Rose K
Instead of sweet relish, which, in my opinion, is an abomination, try a bit of diced apple instead.
Carter
Excellent. Didn’t use sesame oil or garlic. Used dill relish instead of sweet
Johnny Piazzolia
Skip the sesame oil and only use water based tuna!
AlmostJane
Banana peppers are very nice with tuna salad too. A server in a sandwich shop tipped me off to this years ago and it's my go-to method when making tuna for sandwiches now. Yum.
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