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Overhead view of a fresh Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl with edamame, macaroni salad, cucumber, and carrots in a bowl.

Grandma's Classic Tuna Salad Bowl

A comforting and hearty tuna salad bowl featuring creamy tuna mixed with crunchy vegetables and hard-boiled eggs, served over crisp greens for a satisfying and easy meal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

For the Tuna Salad
  • 2 cans Tuna 5 oz each, packed in water or oil, drained well
  • 1/2 cup Mayonnaise full-fat or light, to preference
  • 1 stalk Celery finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup Red Onion finely diced
  • 2 tbsp Dill Pickle Relish or 1 small dill pickle, finely diced
  • 2 large Hard-boiled Eggs peeled and chopped
  • 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
  • 1 tbsp Lemon Juice freshly squeezed
  • 1/2 tsp Salt or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper freshly ground, or to taste
For the Bowl Assembly
  • 4-5 cups Mixed Salad Greens e.g., romaine, butter lettuce, spring mix
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes halved
  • 1/2 Cucumber sliced or diced
  • Fresh Parsley chopped, for garnish (optional)
  • Paprika for garnish (optional)

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife

Method
 

  1. If not using pre-made hard-boiled eggs, place eggs in a small saucepan and cover with cold water by about an inch. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, immediately remove the saucepan from heat, cover with a lid, and let stand for 10-12 minutes. Drain the hot water, then transfer the eggs to an ice bath (bowl of ice water) for 5 minutes to stop the cooking process. Carefully peel and chop the cooled eggs.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, flake the well-drained tuna with a fork. Add the finely chopped celery, diced red onion, dill pickle relish, and the chopped hard-boiled eggs to the bowl.
  3. Add the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, fresh lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to the bowl with the tuna mixture. Mix gently with a spoon or spatula until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and evenly coated. Taste the tuna salad and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to your preference.
  4. Divide the mixed salad greens evenly between two serving bowls. Arrange the halved cherry tomatoes and sliced or diced cucumber alongside the greens in each bowl.
  5. Scoop a generous portion of the prepared tuna salad onto the bed of greens in each bowl. If desired, garnish with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley or a dash of paprika for extra color and flavor. Serve immediately and enjoy Grandma's comforting tuna bowl!

Notes

This classic tuna salad is wonderful made ahead! Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. For a heartier meal, consider serving Grandma's Tuna Bowl with a side of whole-wheat crackers, toasted bread, or even a scoop of quinoa.