Here’s my classic tuna sandwich. Tuna in oil, not water. Juice from the pickle jar adds tang – oh, and let’s use the pickles too! Dijon for flavour, dill for lovely herbiness, celery for crunch and green onion for freshness. Spread onto your favourite bread and enjoy!
Only homemade tuna sandwiches
One of my dark food secrets is that I’m actually a picky eater. The list of things I don’t want to eat is actually pretty long. Which is why I have to cook.
Case in point – tuna sandwich. There’s just no way I’d ever get one from a food court sandwich shop let alone a pre-packaged one from a servo (that’s a gas service station, for all you non-Aussies out there!). Eewww, bet the bread is soggy, the filling is just nothing but mayo-greasy sloppy with cheap tuna that’s just horridly fishy.
Maybe there are great tuna sandwiches out there. But why risk it when you can eat a sure thing at home, adding zing and freshness to transform fish out of a can into a sandwich filling so good you’ll want to use it as a dip for dunking? (Oh yes I do!)
What you need for Tuna Sandwich Filling
Here’s what I put in my tuna sandwich filling.
Tuna in oil will make tastier sandwiches than tuna in water. Olive oil is better than just plain oil. But if tuna in water is all you’ve got, don’t hesitate to plough forward!
Canned tuna types – As with most things in life, not all canned tuna is created equal. Better quality tuna and responsibility fished tuna is pricier. 🙂
Whole-egg mayo has a smoother flavour than ordinary, non-whole-egg mayo which is typically more vinegary and some brands are overly sweeter to my taste. I only stock whole-egg mayo (Hellmans and S&W are my favourite) and Kewpie (also an excellent choice!)
Pickles – We are using both the pickle and the juice from the jar for the tang and free extra flavour in the tuna mixture. So the pickle type matters! I use your everyday standard dill pickles. Not sweet pickles, not sweet gherkins, not cornichons, not sour pickles, not spicy pickles!
(Just jesting with the sternest, you can use any pickles you want here. :))
Green onion – For freshness. Substitute with eschallots (US: shallots) ie the baby onions, or 1/4 cup red onion finely minced.
Celery – For much needed crunch, else the filling is just mush. Finely minced so it melds in.
Dill – For herby freshness. My favourite with tuna, though basil and parsley would make great alternatives.
Also: bread of choice (not going to lie. Everyday sandwich bread is my favourite!). And lettuce. For extra perky freshness and soggy-bread-protection.
How to make tuna sandwiches
This is going straight to my “for experienced cooks only” section: Dump everything in a bowl and mix. Don’t be intimidated! I’ll hold your hand through the whole process – I’ve even made a recipe video for you! 😂
Tuna filling – Drain the oil from the tuna then put it in a bowl with all the other Filling ingredients. Use a wooden spoon to mix assertively, breaking up the tuna into almost like a paste. Bashing up the celery and pickles to soften the edges and squeeze out a little juices into the filling is encouraged.
Make sandwich – Butter the bread, top with 2 slices of lettuce then tuna sandwich filling. Use as much or as little as you want. Clamp the other slide of bread on then cut and eat! See note below the photo for making ahead.
Matters of Tuna Sandwich
And a few final words on the humble Tuna Sandwich:
Shelf life – The filling itself will keep for 3 days in a normal container or 5 days in a super airtight container (I have these insanely airtight Glasslock containers that extend food life because it’s like vac-packing).
Sandwich shelf life – To minimise bread sogginess, butter the bread and use a layer of lettuce on each slice to act as a protection barrier. Sometimes I’ll double up, for extra protection. If you do that, your sandwich will be good for a day!
Number of sandwiches – This recipe makes a generous amount for 4 sandwiches using everyday sandwich bread. You can make more if using smaller bread rolls.
Scale the recipe – To make more or less, or to scale a recipe to the tuna can size you have, click / tap on the servings and slide. Handy! 🙂
As a side note, JB made mayonnaise using the oil we drained from the tuna. Trés cheffy thing to do, awesome tuna flavour, but it makes far more than you need for a single batch of this recipe and I’m not quite sure what to do with the leftover mayo other than make more tuna sandwiches, which means opening more cans of tuna and more leftover oil! 😂 So we didn’t use the homemade tuna mayo in this recipe. But drop a comment below if you want the recipe and JB will jot it down and we’ll pop it in the notes of the recipe card. – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Tuna sandwich
Ingredients
Tuna sandwich filling:
- 425g/ 15 oz canned tuna in oil , drained (Note 1)
- 3/4 cup whole egg mayonnaise or Kewpie (Note 2)
- 3/4 cup finely diced celery (1 stalk, cut in 4 lengthways, then finely diced)
- 5 tbsp finely chopped dill pickle (Note 3)
- 2 tbsp liquid from pickle jar (Note 3)
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 3 tbsp finely chopped dill (or parsley or basil)
- 1/3 cup finely sliced green onion , ~2 stems (Note 4)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
For sandwiches:
- 8 pieces butter lettuce (2 per sandwich)
- Salted butter , for spreading
- 8 slices bread or 4 rolls (Note 5)
Instructions
- Filling – Put all the Tuna Filling ingredients in a bowl. Mix well using a wooden spoon, breaking up the tuna so the filling becomes fairly smooth. The pickles and celery will take a beating too which is encouraged -> flavour melding!
- Sandwich – Divide Tuna Filling between 4 sandwiches (or more/less depending on bread size). I butter the bread and use 2 pieces of lettuce per sandwich. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
My canned tuna recipes!
It’s amazing what you can make with a humble can of tuna….
Life of Dozer
What to do when there’s loud jack hammering coming from construction next door and you have to record a video voice-over? Hide in the storage room. With Dozer, of course. 😂
Oh yeah, this would make a great work lunch sandwich filling. This has given me inspiration. Love it. Thanks Nagi.
Get out of here Nagi! You are my food thoughts come true to life recipes! Love the behind-the-scenes shoots with our favorite furry friend as well!
Oh my goodness Jessica! Thank you so much for such a comprehensive guide to tinned tuna. I’m going to save this information for all future shopping trips.
Love this 🥰
You could place one lettuce leaf on the top and bottom of the filling to ensure absolutely no sogginess.
Hand waving in air.
Mayo recipe please.
Great recipe!!
I enjoy tuna sandwiches made this way. I often add a hard boiled egg pressed through a strainer and will use dill pickle relish instead of chopping a pickle. Ensalada Rusa in Spain often has tuna and is a tuna favorite.
I third the request for JB’s mayo recipe – be good to put it to good use rather than throw it out👍 Thanks a lot!
I was hoping you were going for that brand of Tuna after your comment that they are not all created equal. Simply the best!!
Hi Nagi I love your recipes Im 77yrs and bought your book for me and a friend for his 70th he loves it too. I make tuna sandwiches… I mix all the ingredients you do but with advocado…..I love tuna spaghetti I put rocket in it for the peppery taste and tuna salad….Your good thankyou
Hi Nagi & Dozer! Dozer, I hope your tummy is doing better! Lots of scratches Hugs, Kisses & snuggles to you!
Nagi I love a good homemade tuna sammie! My favorite recipe is kind of similar to yours. I take kosher dill pickles, red or white or yellow onions (not a sweet onions) & finely dice them. If I dont have pickles on hand, capers will work nicely. Lots of black pepper, dill & just enough mayo to combine the ingredients. DONE!
If I’m feeling fancy I’ll add cheese & toast it for a classic tuna melt.
Try it my way…I think you’ll like it. Happy eating!
A lifetime ago, my boyfriend made a tuna roll for lunch. It was one of many reasons I married him. 35 years on and yep we still have a tuna roll/sandwich often, I’m very keen to gibe thus a go. I’ll report back. PS, so glad you use tuna in oil – the other is cat food!
Hey Nagi! Food enthusiast and marine biologist here! Very excited to try this recipe 😋 (yes I’m a marine bio who eats fish 😂).
Thought you’d be interested to learn that while Sirena uses sustainable fishing methods, the tuna species they target (yellowfin) is not the most sustainable choice.
Thought you (and others) might be interested in my canned tuna guide when shopping in Australia’s major grocery stores 🥰 love your work as always 🙏❤️
Best choice
John West
✅✅ Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)
✅✅ Pole & line caught
Second best choices
Greenseas
✅✅ Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)
✅ FAD-free
Safcol
✅✅ Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)
✅ FAD-free
Wild Tides
✅✅ Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)
✅ FAD-free
Woolworths & Essentials brands (identical)
✅✅ Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)
✅ FAD-free
Coles & Smart Buy brands (identical)
✅✅ Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)
✅ FAD-free
Avoid
Sirena
❌ Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)
✅✅ Pole & line caught
Note
🐬‘Dolphin friendly’ fishing methods and labeling are not a key indicator of sustainable practices
Species
* Avoid: Bluefin and bigeye tuna
* Eat less: Yellowfin and albacore
* Best: Skipjack tuna
Methods
* Unacceptable: FADs with purse seine nets, gillnetting and longlining
* Acceptable: FAD-free purse seine
* Most sustainable: Pole and line caught
Skipjack tuna typically has three times less mercury than both albacore and yellowfin tuna.
Canned fish is more energy efficient.
Sources
https://www.greenpeace.org.au/what-we-do/protecting-oceans/canned-tuna-guide/what-sustainable-tuna/
https://www.greenpeace.org.au/what-we-do/protecting-oceans/canned-tuna-guide/
https://goodfish.org.au
https://www.thespruceeats.com/sustainable-seafood-choices-1665724
Thank you so much Jessica, This info was most enlightening!
That’s awesome Jessica!!
Sadly, we have none of those brands in the US!!!😩
Do you possibly know of a website that would have a list like this I could go to?
Hi Sarah! I don’t know of any websites that talk about specific US brands (many websites often avoid mention branding as don’t want to look like they’re affiliated or sponsored).
However, apply my notes when reading cans of tuna. As long as you AVOID brands with bluefin (overfished & endangered) and bigeye tuna (overfished and vulnerable) and that use FADs with purse seine nets, gillnetting and longlining (unacceptable) — you’ll be making more sustainable choices ☺️
Notes
🐬‘Dolphin friendly’ fishing methods and labeling are not a key indicator of sustainable practices
Species
* Avoid: Bluefin and bigeye tuna
* Eat less: Yellowfin and albacore
* Best: Skipjack tuna
Methods
* Unacceptable: FADs with purse seine nets, gillnetting and longlining
* Acceptable: FAD-free purse seine
* Most sustainable: Pole and line caught
Skipjack tuna typically has three times less mercury than both albacore and yellowfin tuna.
Canned fish is more energy efficient.
Amazing information! Thank you for sharing
Thanks so much for this information Jessica. I love a tuna sandwich only home made of course and this recipe looks amazing,
That’s amazing information Jessica, thank you so much. I want to incorporate that into the post, if that’s ok with you? 🙂 N x
Absolutely!!! 🥰 I would be honoured! 😂 it’s not the perfect scientific analysis but just a good sustainable guide 🥰 thank you!
Thanks for sharing and educating!!
No worries 😎 sharing is caring!
Thanks Jessica. Very useful references as well. Sustainability, energy efficient AND healthier (less mercury). Water can be drained and a measure of olive oil used to improve the taste and texture of the mix.
Yes I feel it’s always important to back what you say! (said the scientist ha)
Glad you like my mini guide 🥰
Thanks Jessica – really useful info and I’ll be passing it along to others.
That’s so wonderful to hear 🥰 I keep in my phone notes and have shared with my family and friends ❤️
Hey Jessica, thanks so much for this comprehensive info!!! I’ll definitely be taking this on board!
That’s so wonderful to hear 🥰 I keep in my phone notes and have shared with my family and friends ❤️
So glad 🥰🥰🥰 happy cooking! Praise Nagi 🙏❤️
excellent. super andsimple
Can’t wait to give this a go. A lifetime ago, my bo
I’d like JB’s recipe please. Homemade mayo is the best! (As long as it’s made with a good quality oil 😊)
I would love the homemade tuna mayo recipe please 😊
This was a hilarious post. Felt like a friend was talking through the recipe with me. U made the humble tuna sandwich a fancy one imo. Loved it. Thank you!
Seconded! Never made home made mayo but this seems like a good reason to give it a go.
Thirded – I’d like the recipe too please