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Thursday, March 4, 2010

Thai Tuna Salad





From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...If you've had enough tuna salad to last several lifetimes, I'd like to propose you try this variation. The recipe is similar to one served in Thailand, but it requires no exotic ingredients and can be on the table in about 10 minutes. While standard tuna salads tend to cloy, this one awakens taste buds with the hot, sweet, sour and salty flavors we've come to associate with Thai food. I serve this beautiful salad in lettuce cups but it would also work well with pita bread or flour tortillas. Here's the recipe for a quick Lenten lunch or a simple go-to supper on those nights when you're too tired to cook.

Thai Tuna Salad...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, adapted from a recipe by Nancie McDermott

Ingredients:
2 (7-oz.) cans chunk tuna, drained
3 tablespoons Thai fish sauce
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
2 tablespoons thinly sliced shallots or red onion
2 green onions thinly sliced crosswise
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped roasted, salted peanuts
1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro + cilantro for garnish

Directions:
Combine tuna, fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, shallots, green onions, ginger, peanuts, pepper flakes and 2 tablespoons cilantro in a medium bowl. Toss gently to season tuna. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes or chill for up to 2 days. Served chilled or at room temperature with lettuce leaves, pita bread or flour tortillas. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:

Swedish West Coast Salad - One Perfect Bite
Margarita Shrimp Salad - One Perfect Bite
Camarones a la Mexicana - One Perfect Bite

50 comments:

  1. I love this Thai tuna salad!!! :)

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  2. I see this on the menu of the Thai restaurants I frequent, but never order it because there are too many other things I love. But you make it look/sound so good. I will definitely try it next time--or maybe just make it myself!

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  3. Wow, I have never seen or heard of such a take on tuna salad before... sounds great, though. Full of lots of punch to brighten up the tuna, will have to try it.

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  4. Oh dear MAry ,i couldn agree with u more that the thai sweet sour and salty flavours not only awaken but have u craving for more and more and more.....
    Loved ur thai tuna salad and yeah we do love our tuna.....

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  5. Yum--what a unique take on tuna salad. It looks delicious!

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  6. a beautiful salad. Thai food is very enticing and adictive!

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  7. What a beautiful picture! It looks like a flower and the recipe sounds delish!

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  8. Mary, your pictures are fabulous- of course we have to try this now! Beautiful! It's interesting- seems putting a ton of mayo in tuna is more an American thing- my Italian grandmothers would never have
    xoxo Pattie

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  9. Wow, what a fresh and beautiful take on tuna salad!Love this!

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  10. I eat tuna often, for lunch. This is certainly a recipe I will try. Now, why didn't I think of that? ;)

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  11. Beautiful presentation. Looks delicious. I love it.

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  12. Ben's going to need this after his birthday week of debachery...printing!

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  13. How pretty! This would be so fun to serve at a ladies spring luncheon. The recipe sounds yummy!

    ~Liz

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  14. I will have to try this. Would make a good lunch!

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  15. This is very beautiful presentation and definitely a healthy salad.

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  16. The fish sauce and the lime - it just elevates it - taking what could be a mundane lunch and filling it with flavor - will do that tomorrow.

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  17. Hello Mary, thank you for stopping by my blog. I look forward to sharing with you. I'm following you now . Wishing you happiness, Katherine

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  18. Great flavors and pretty lettuce leaves!

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  19. This looks delicious and just in time....I was wondering what to fix for dinner :)

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  20. Usually I'm not a fan of tuna salads, but this one is very different. Nice job!

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  21. This is a stunning presentation. The lettuce leaves look like perfect flowers and the salad sounds wonderful. I will be trying this.

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  22. How pretty is that!!! I don't even like tuna but I think I would eat that!! :) Also I would like to invite you to come by and check out our new blog- The Peppered Pantry:)

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  23. GORGEOUS presentation. So colorful.

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  24. You know, I have been eating a lot of tuna salad lately. It was on sale a while ago so my girlfriend bought a small mountain of it. I'm definitely trying this!

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  25. Oh Mary--thank you! The Thai tuna sounds delicious. I need to replace my fish sauce and pick up some cilantro but all the rest of the ingredients are in my pantry. I am a Thai food fanatic. We have a wonderful local restaurant. As a hedge against that restaurant ever closing, I have amassed many Thai cookbooks. I believe in being prepared!

    Have a delicious day.
    Bonnie

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  26. this sounds delicious AND healthy!
    my favorite way to do tuna salad is with garlic, paprika, spicy brown mustard, celery, onions, and dill relish.

    I will have to try this recipe as something different :)

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  27. This sounds scrumptious. Thanks for a very different way to enjoy my tuna!

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  28. I would never have thought to do a Thai tuna salad. You are brilliant, my dear!

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  29. Mary, you wrote the loveliest comment on my blog re: my daughter. Thank you. I followed your comment here, to your blog. LOVE it!! So many great recipes/ideas. I look forward to reading/learning/drooling. :)

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  30. Mary, this Thai tuna salad is singing that Spring will be here soon-Beautiful. A Perfect dish for a Spring day.

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  31. Lovely salad... and the lettuce makes it all even better.

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  32. I've never had Thai tuna salad. Thanks for sharing this great recipe!

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  33. Gee, my mouth started watering once saw the title name Thai Salad! Just remind me of something swet & sour. Hmm...mm...

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  34. Mary, this sounds wonderful! I think this could turn me into a tuna salad afficianado (OK ... turn me into someone who doesn't wrinkle his nose at the thought of having to eat it). ;)

    You always share wonderful ideas! Thank you for the inspiration!

    Bill

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  35. I'm pretty sure I would like this so much more than regular tuna salad (I HATE mayo). I love all of the flavorings in here. Never seen a thai version before!

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  36. This is to pretty to eat! LOL
    I love the flavoe explosion you described! Thumbs up! I SU'ed it.

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  37. Thanks for stopping by my blog! I love meeting new bloggers :)

    I love tuna and Thai food so this sounds perfect! Mmmm.

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  38. I love tuna salad, Mary. this one looks delicious!

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  39. thank you so much for visiting, Mary...I love tuna...

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  40. This is the prettiest tuna salad I've ever seen and it sounds delicious! This one is going on my menu plans for this week :-)

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  41. Thanks for visiting my blog, I will definitely be following yours now. Everything looks so great and your pictures are beautiful!

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  42. I love the way you plated this up Mary! It looks like a flower - so pretty. I love all the brightening flavors.

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  43. Just wanted to let you know that I linked to this recipe on my menu plans this week :-)

    http://seasidesimplicity.blogspot.com/2010/03/show-and-tell-meals-and-menus.html

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  44. A different tuna salad indeed. What interesting flavors. Thank you for sharing this and presenting new possibilities.

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  45. Hi Mary! At first I thought that was corn in the salad but when I read the ingredients I realized it was ginger. A sigh of relief! I actually make this a lot. My husband makes his the ole Indiana way, with mayo!

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  46. Puna, I think what you are seeing is crushed peanuts. The ginger is finely chopped so it would be difficult to see.

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  47. I used to eat tuna salads alll the time but never made one near as good as this one! Definitely marking it.

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  48. I just made this salad to take for lunch today and am having a hard time not eating it all right now for breakfast!!! It is amazing - Thanks!

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