Tuna salad starts with a blend of two main ingredients: tuna and mayonnaise. I substituted the mayonnaise with homemade curds for a healthier option. And believe me, it is absolutely delicious. I like to watch my guests keep reaching out for one more bite, and another and yet another.
The tuna used is usually pre-cooked, canned, and packaged in water or oil. Made with a few simple ingredients such as canned tuna, cucumber, spring onions/chives, celery, onion chilli flakes ( the list is endless). When the mixture is placed on bread, it makes a tuna salad sandwich. It is a light and fresh comfort food classic. It is the perfect combination of creamy and crispy. Serve this in a sandwich wrap it in lettuce, or stuff it in avocado halves for a healthy, throw-together lunch / a mini snack or eat it the way I do after a workout or as an appetizer before a meal.
I like making this for a snack/appetizer or titbits and especially after a workout. You can eat quite a bit without compromising on the calories burnt. So let’s get down to it.
The Recipe:
1. 1 medium cucumber
2. 1 can of tuna flakes in oil ( can use the fresh tuna too, in which case it has to be pre-cooked)
3. 1/4 cup curds/yoghurt
4. Some Coriander leaves
5. Tomato Sauce/ Homemade Pizza Sauce
6. Chilli flakes ( optional)
7. Salt
Bowls, cutting board, a sharp knife and a vegetable peeler
Cut off ends of cucumber as in video and wipe clean. Remove skin ( or keep it on, it’s up to you). To get the striped effect, peel the skin at intervals before slicing into thick rounds. Place the slices on a serving tray. Mix the tuna, salt, chilli flakes, herbs, and curds/yoghurt together. Place dollops on half the cucumber slices. Top with a little pizza sauce. Place the remaining slices of cucumber on top of the tuna mixture and press down lightly. Smear some pizza sauce on the top for additional colour. Insert a toothpick to keep the bites in place.
You can also serve the cucumber bites as individual slices and not sandwiched with a toothpick. Either way, it’s a delicious, low-calorie option that everyone loves.
Pizza Sauce
1 cup tomato puree; 3 large cloves garlic; 5 leaves oregano/ Indian borage ( Sambarballi); 1 tsp brown sugar; 2 tbsp olive oil; salt and pepper to taste.
Blend all ingredients, except oil in a good blender till smooth and thick. Heat oil in a large, deep pan. Lower heat to medium, add the pureed mixture and cook till thick and the oil oozes out. The colour changes to a deep red, You can make it as thick or as thin as you like. Cool and bottle. Store in the refrigerator. Use as required for pizza, pasta or to add colour and taste to your Cucumber Tuna Bites.
The ultimate guide to Mangalorean Protestant Cuisine and my tales in the kitchen. You will find recipes of all kinds here, to tickle your palate.
My name is Ruth and I am an Applied Psychologist with a post graduate degree in counseling and guidance. Over the years I have specialized in Obesity Counselling Services using food to reach out to the community. It is a great way to connect with people as food has an incredible impact on health.
I started this blog to chronicle my adventures in the kitchen and to showcase the recipes handed down to me from my Mother and maternal grandmother Ajamma ( grandmother in the Kannada language). I do hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I did putting it all together.
I love reading, music, gardening, and learning new things everyday.
My passion is enhancing human potential and teaching people that they have to take responsibility for their own lives. In short, I am the Versatile Housewife.
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