Tuna salad becomes tastier and creamier when mayonnaise is swapped for one simple ingredient: avocado. Recipe developer and author of four cookbooks Laurel Randolph, who has 10 years' experience developing recipes, has praised avocado as an alternative that makes the absence of mayonnaise unnoticed. She told Simply Recipes that for anyone unsure about mayonnaise, avocado is a great alternative for adding creamy richness to tuna salad, chicken salad, and more.
Why Avocado Works in Tuna Salad
Randolph explained that the texture and flavour of avocado are hard to beat, and it pairs perfectly with flaky tuna, spicy red onion, crunchy celery, and tangy lemon. She added that avocado brings enough richness and body that the swap seems intentional rather than like a compromise. Food experts at The Kitchn also recommend replacing mayonnaise with avocado, noting that it brings maximum creaminess and tons of flavour.
Beyond improving taste and texture, using avocado instead of mayonnaise offers a lighter take on tuna, which is especially appealing during warm summer months. This makes it a suitable option for those who find mayonnaise a little heavy and want to swap it out occasionally for something tastier and healthier.
How to Make Tuna Salad With Avocado
The recipe starts like any classic tuna salad: mix one can of tuna with chopped red onion and chopped celery. Half an avocado is the perfect amount for one can of tuna, enough for two sandwiches or one large serving paired with greens. Instead of classic mayonnaise, mix in a homemade avocado "mayo" made from half a mashed avocado, lemon juice, and olive oil.
The Kitchn also recommended adding chives to the salad filling, saying the chives provide so much flavour that it wraps itself around the tuna salad and really knocks it out of the park.
