Gentle Readers, The Practical Cook should not be left alone in the kitchen. Let’s not fool ourselves, it’s always the test kitchen when I’m in there, and when I’m hungry, strange things happen. You see, I often work California hours, which puts the start of the day, high meeting time, right in the middle of lunch here on the right coast. When I get a bit peckish, people start to look like dancing hams, just like in the old Bugs Bunny cartoons.
Peanut Butter Tuna Salad Being Invented
So I need protein, and fast. Open a can of tuna, sweet pickle relish, dab of mayo (don’t barf haters, I know you’re out there), done. But no, that’s not good enough when I’m hungry and not in a mayo state of mind. There was a famous “African Tuna Salad” sandwich at a local joint here, which I unfortunately never tried, but remembered. It was time to re-create it.
Trader Joe's Tongol Chunk Light Tuna: Sorry Charlie
Peanut Butter Tuna Salad Recipe
1 can of tuna (Trader Joe’s featured here, thanks to The Practical Cook’s Mom for the recommendation: delish)
Dijon Mustard
Mayo (just a smidge, bear with me)
Peanut Sauce (I cheated, and didn’t make my own here)
Sriracha (well, just because)
Sweet sweet gherkins, sliced on the bias
Open and drain the can of tuna. Deal with any yowling cats that may have swarmed you during this process. Add a squirt of Dijon (probably 1 tsp at least), 1 Tablespoon of mayo, and 2 Tablespoons of peanut sauce. Add Sriracha to taste, then stir to combine. Now add the sliced gherkins, and taste for balance. If you want more sweet, add a dash of pickle juice, more peanut flavor or moisture, add more peanut sauce. You get the point.
Serving suggestions:
1. On Celery.
Peanut Butter Tuna Salad on Celery: Mobile Lunch
2. Tossed with Pasta.
Pasta Tossed with Peanut Butter Tuna Salad
3. Toasted on Bread with Cheese or Peanut Butter.
Can't decide between a tuna melt and a peanut butter? Choose both.
Yes, for test purposes, I made half with cheese, and half with peanut butter. I couldn’t decide which I liked better. Wildly different, equally delicious. The Practical Cook is here to wade into abnormal lunch waters so you don’t have to:
Cheese and Peanut Butter in the Tuna Taste Test
OMG, and that is all. I found Peanut Butter Tuna Salad to be irresistible. It is a protein hit, balanced and interesting, and delightful across its many serving formats. Don’t be afraid. You can cap it off with a serving of Clusterfluff.
Are you a tuna salad fan? Peanut butter? Meet up below in the comments section.
Food questions, blog ideas, and taste test challenges may be submitted to practical cook at gmail dot com. Connect on Facebook: The Practical Cook Blog. (Thanks in advance for spreading The Practical Cook Blog word. Press “like” on Facebook today!)
Tomorrow, a Product Review: My New Favorite Peanut Butter (Hearts).
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