Totally Tricked Out Tuna Salad Sandwiches

Now that summer has finally made an appearance I feel the need to get some good 'tried and true' easy-to-whip-up lunches & suppers in my culinary arsenal. I need these simple kinds of meals just in case the kids and I (like today) spend the entire afternoon soaking in my parents' pool. We didn't get home until an hour before supper time. Do I, after a very relaxing day in the sun, want to make a complicated supper for five people? No, not particularly. I'm exhausted and a nice, easy meal is all that I have the energy to make. This is where sandwiches and a side salad come in really handy!

Tuna salad is one of those 'recipes' (can I call it a recipe when it's 'only' tuna salad?!?) that I assumed everyone makes the same way. Growing up my Mom, Dad and Nana always made our tuna salad with sweet green relish and mayo (and possibly green onion). I come to learn, thanks to my hubby for recently enlightening me, that not all people eat tuna salad the same way. Huh. After almost 14 years of marriage and countless cans of tuna, I'm just NOW finding out that he didn't grow up eating tuna salad like I did!?! Next thing I know he'll be telling me that he loves dill pickle and peanut butter sandwiches! What? You do, Brad?! Oh MAN! You think you know a person!! ;) I thought everyone added sweet green relish to their tuna salad but I have been corrected.

I do realize that not all people enjoy all the goodies that I like in my tuna salad but I guess I assumed that relish was a staple. My bad. I also don't like my tuna salad too mushy. It's got to have some crunch (from the onion & lettuce) and I love some heat (hellllooo hot banana pepper rings!).

Tuna salad is kind of like quich and pizza -- you can easily play around with what you add to it to make it a little different depending on your mood (and what's in your fridge). I just love that it's so easy and can be made into wraps, sandwiches or as a side to a green salad. Delish and nice'n'cool for those hot afternoons and evenings when standing in front of a stove is the LAST thing you want to do!

So what goodies do you like to add to your tuna salad??

Totally Tricked Out Tuna Salad Sandwiches


From: The Baking Bookworm
Yield: 2 tuna sandwiches

1 (170g) can tuna, drained
2 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tbsp sweet green relish
3 tbsp red onion, diced
3 tbsp finely diced celery
3 tbsp old Cheddar cheese, grated
2 tbsp fresh Parmesan cheese, grated
Pinch garlic powder
2 tbsp hot banana peppers, sliced & chopped
4 slices of bread

Garnish: Lettuce & Tomato slices

In a medium bowl, combine tuna, mayonnaise, relish, onion, celery, cheeses, garlic powder and hot banana peppers. Mix well. Place a large spoonful of the tuna salad on two pieces of bread. Top with garnishes, if using. Top with remaining slices of bread (it's not rocket science, people).

If not using tuna salad right away, store in refrigerator.

Note: Also try using this salad on tuna melts or on the side of a green salad.