Description
This Cottage Cheese Tuna Salad is a quick, creamy, and protein-packed dish combining the smoothness of cottage cheese with the savory flavor of tuna. Enhanced with crunchy celery, sharp red onion, and a zing of lemon juice, this salad is a perfect light meal or snack that requires no cooking and can be enjoyed immediately or chilled for a refreshing taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 can (5 oz) tuna, drained
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Collect all ingredients including cottage cheese, tuna, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, celery, red onion, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt to prepare your salad.
- Drain Tuna: Open the can of tuna and drain all liquid thoroughly to avoid excess moisture in the salad.
- Combine Tuna and Cottage Cheese: Place the drained tuna and cottage cheese into a medium-sized mixing bowl for the base of the salad.
- Add Mayonnaise and Mustard: Add mayonnaise and Dijon mustard into the bowl to give the salad a creamy and tangy flavor.
- Incorporate Vegetables: Finely chop celery and red onion, then add them for crunch and flavor contrast.
- Season the Salad: Pour in lemon juice and sprinkle black pepper and salt to add acidity and seasoning.
- Mix Thoroughly: Use a spoon or spatula to mix all ingredients evenly ensuring a well combined salad texture and taste.
- Taste and Adjust: Sample the mixture and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if desired for perfect flavor balance.
- Serve or Chill: Transfer to serving dish. Serve immediately for room temperature freshness or refrigerate for 30 minutes to enjoy a cool, crisp salad.
- Enjoy: Relish your cottage cheese tuna salad as a nutritious snack, side dish, or light meal any time of day.
Notes
- This salad requires no cooking and can be tailored with additional herbs like dill or parsley for extra flavor.
- For a lighter option, consider using low-fat mayonnaise or Greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise.
- Chilling the salad enhances flavors and texture but serving immediately is also delicious.
- Use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled for best taste.
- Drain tuna well to avoid a watery salad consistency.
- This recipe is great for quick meal prep and can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
