New York Diner Tuna Salad is one of my favorite things to eat. Growing up on Long Island, my friends and I always found ourselves in a diner in the middle of the night and everyone had their favorite dish. One of my friends always ordered a Toasted Bran Muffin with Butter on the side; another always had a Hot Open Turkey Sandwich with Fries. Back then, we all washed it down with Diet Coke.
For me, it was tuna on rye. I always had a cold tuna salad sandwich on fresh rye bread with lettuce and tomatoes. I always had room for a tuna sandwich.
Now that I'm southern and not visiting diners in the middle of the night, my tuna on rye outings have become a thing of the past. There are no Greek diners in The Keys and no friends eating bran muffins.
Some of the small restaurants in The Keys have tuna salad, but it's not the same. Many Southerners think tuna salad needs chopped eggs in it--but that's just wrong!
Jump to:
- What's in Your Tuna Salad?
- Duke's vs. Hellmann's Mayonnaise
- What Is The Best Tuna In a Can?
- What You Need To Make The Best Tuna Salad
- How To Make Great Tuna Fish Salad on Lettuce
- What Can I Substitute for Mayonnaise?
- Storage of Tuna Salad
- Can I Bring Tuna Salad To The Beach?
- If You Like Creamy Salads, Try These Recipes
- Top Tips for Classic NY Diner Tuna Salad
- Frequently Asked Questions
- "📖 Recipe"
What's in Your Tuna Salad?
New York diner and NYC deli tuna salad is made with solid white tuna (not chunk light, a dark pink color), celery, and mayo. That's it!
I put my twist on it with some chopped red onions and dill. High-quality tuna is the star!
Duke's vs. Hellmann's Mayonnaise
Hellmann's Mayonnaise is a Northeast thing. I don't think anyone buys any other brand.
Shortly after I moved to Key Largo, I went for a haircut in a small shop. I started talking with the receptionist about cooking. I don't remember what we were talking about, but she quickly told me I had to get Duke's mayonnaise. Duke's? I had never heard of it.
My curiosity got the best of me, so I brought home some Duke's. I tasted them side by side. While Hellmann's had an edge, Duke's is good too. Use whichever you prefer.
What Is The Best Tuna In a Can?
Wild Planet tuna is delicious and reminiscent of the tuna I enjoyed as a kid. It's available in most major grocery chains, including our local Publix and the nearby Walmart.
In the past few years, conventional canned tuna has become very bland, but Wild Planet's tuna maintains the rich flavor of yesteryears. It doesn't need a ton of mayo to taste good, making it a flavorful and convenient option.
What You Need To Make The Best Tuna Salad
- Tuna
- Mayonnaise
- Celery
- Red Onions
- Dill
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Olives
- Green Onions
How To Make Great Tuna Fish Salad on Lettuce
- Drain the tuna in a colander and place it in a mixing bowl. Using the back of a fork, mash the tuna until it is broken into small pieces.
- Mix in the mayonnaise, celery, red onions, dill, and a little salt and pepper.
- Tear the lettuce into bite-size pieces and place them in a salad bowl. Top with tomatoes, cucumber slices, red onions, olives, and scallions.
- Finally, add a big scoop of tuna salad on top of each salad.
TOP TIP: Using a food processor to chop the tuna is unnecessary as it may chop it too small. Instead, chop the celery and onion with a big knife or run them through a food processor, pulsing several times until chopped, then mix them with the tuna.
What Can I Substitute for Mayonnaise?
- Yogurt: A good substitute for mayonnaise is sour cream or full-fat (10%) Greek Yogurt.
- Avocado: As for avocado, you can smash the ripe flesh of an avocado with a fork, add a bit of salt, and use it as a replacement for mayo. It is creamy and delicious!
- Hummus: Another option is hummus. Hummus can be a flavorful alternative to mayonnaise, especially in tuna sandwiches, wraps, and salads. It adds protein, fiber, and a tangy taste.
Storage of Tuna Salad
Tuna salad should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure the container is sealed tightly to prevent the salad from absorbing other odors in the fridge.
Keep tuna salad refrigerated at all times, ideally at temperatures below 40°F (4°C). Bacteria can grow rapidly at warmer temperatures, so it's important to keep the salad chilled.
Can I Bring Tuna Salad To The Beach?
The allure of a cold tuna salad sandwich on the beach is real. However, mayo-based salads need a little TLC if you're packing them for all-day beach or picnic outings. Make sure your tuna and other cold salads such as potato salad, macaroni salad, and coleslaw, for example, are stored in insulated coolers with lots of ice to avoid foodborne illness.
The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) recommends keeping cold foods, including perishable items like tuna salad, at an internal temperature of 40°F (4°C) or below to prevent bacterial growth and ensure food safety.
Do this by nestling the food in ice or keeping it in a cooler or with ice packs.
If You Like Creamy Salads, Try These Recipes
This is my recipe for Veggie Tuna Salad. Veggie Tuna is a NYC bagel store classic. It's loaded with chopped veggies and really good on a toasted everything bagel.
Here is a creamy shrimp salad recipe, Florida Keys Pink Shrimp Salad. Key West pink shrimp make the BEST shrimp salad! I've added some Old Bay seasoning to the recipe for a little zip and this recipe is excellent! key West Pinks, as the shrimp are called, have a little snap when you bite into them. Delicious!
Chicken Salad with Grapes Creamy salad featuring poached chicken, mayo, grapes, Dijon mustard, grated onions, and topped with almonds.
Creamy Caesar Salad can be used as a base for tuna salad, providing a double creamy flavor.
Try my recipe for Sweet and Creamy Macaroni Salad. Sweet and creamy, perfect for a side dish or potluck contribution.
Top Tips for Classic NY Diner Tuna Salad
- The best canned tuna salad is made with whole albacore white tuna packed in water.
- Open the canned tuna and squeeze every bit of water you can from the can so the finished product is super creamy! If the water hits the mayo, you will end up with watery tuna salad.
- Mash the tuna with a fork until it's in tiny pieces. If you're making a few cans at one time, you can put on food service gloves and mash it up with your fingers in a big bowl. Make sure it is all broken down and no big chunks remain. Do not puit the tuna in a food processor.
- Mix the tuna with mayo, Hellmann's or Dukes or experiment with Greek yogurt, mashed avocado, or hummus for different flavors.
- While my favorite NY diners and delis only add celery and mayo, you can add your favorite flavorings to the salad. Try my combo of celery, red onion, and dill. It's fabulous!
Frequently Asked Questions
When I was a kid, I loved tuna fish salad! That said, some kids love the creamy texture of tuna salad, especially if it's made with ingredients they like. I remember being in the lunch room at school and one of my friends had tuna fish sandwiches all the time, but with no mayonnaise. It depends on the kid and what they're used to eating at home.
Frozen tuna fish salad is not recommended, as the texture and flavor can change. Mayonnaise-based salads may separate and become watery when frozen and thawed.
NYC deli tuna has white, not light, tuna, Hellmann's mayonnaise, and chopped celery in it.
"📖 Recipe"
New York Diner Tuna Salad
Ingredients
FOR THE TUNA
- 2 (5 oz) cans solid white Albacore tuna, packed in water
- 3-4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- ½ cup chopped celery 2 stalks, trimmed and finely chopped
- ¼ cup finely chopped red onions
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried
- sea salt
FOR THE SALAD
- 4 cups Romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 1 cucumber cut into slices
- ⅓ cup sliced red onion
- ½ cup olives
- 2 green onions thinly sliced crosswise
Instructions
- Drain tuna in a colander and place in mixing bowl. With the back of a fork, mash the tuna until it is broken into small pieces.
- Mix in mayonnaise, celery, red onions, dill and a little salt and pepper.
- Tear lettuce into bite size pieces. Top with tomatoes, cucumber slices, red onions, olives, and scallions.
- Top each salad with a big scoop of tuna salad.
The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.