Ina Garten's Simple Substitute For Superior Tuna Salad
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
One reason why tuna salad tastes better at restaurants is because restaurants source top-notch tuna for their dishes. Ina Garten, the beloved culinary maven known better as the Barefoot Contessa, adds punch to her tuna salad with one fundamental swap: She replaces American canned tuna for the Italian variety, which is typically packed in olive oil and brings extra flavor.
It may surprise you to know that Italy is passionate about its canned tuna. The nation is second only to Spain in terms of both producing and consuming tuna in Europe. In fact, no fewer than 57% of Italian consumers report eating tuna weekly! Yellowfin is the predominant species of tuna that gets canned in Italy, as opposed to America, where the most-used tuna is Skipjack.
If you are looking for ways to upgrade your tuna salad, why not take a tip from Garten and start with better fish? You can find a four-pack of Callipo Italian canned tuna in olive oil on Amazon and have it delivered right to your door. In an age of Prime shipping, there's no excuse not to indulge in better tuna, right in time for your next sandwich.
Craft your Italian tuna salad like Ina Garten or get creative
The Barefoot Contessa uses her Italian tuna in a preparation similar to a tapenade, with a Provençal blend of flavors derived from mascarpone, pitted Kalamata olives, and plenty of fresh green herbs. She says that she loves to serve it atop crostini when she pours drinks at a dinner party. While Ina Garten notoriously follows recipes exactly, you can safely put your own spin on tuna salad taking nothing from her tips but the oil-packed Italian tuna.
A little mayo and salt and pepper will definitely be enough for a basic tuna salad using this flavorful protein, but why stop there? You can keep your Italian momentum going with a preparation using lemon juice, capers, and fresh rosemary for a bright, briny lunch. Veering in a more Roman direction, try sun-dried tomatoes, Dijon, basil, and red wine vinegar. No matter how you spin your next tuna salad, the Barefoot Contessa's hack for better tuna is going to ensure that you devour every bite.