Add Layers Of Flavor To Tuna Salad With One Vibrant Spice

Tuna salad is a go-to staple for an easy lunch or weeknight dinner. It's a fully customizable dish that might require just two basic ingredients: canned tuna and mayonnaise. However, that's just the beginning. Seasonings, chopped vegetables, and other elements can be added to make tuna salad taste like heaven. But one vibrant spice that you might not have tried yet, adds so much flavor and color to this dish: curry powder.

Curry powder is a complex spice blend that's commonly associated with Indian cooking. It's typically made from spices like turmeric, ginger, and cumin which add a little kick and lend a warm mouthfeel. There can be more than a dozen herbs and spices involved in any given curry powder recipe, so you can make your own to suit your preferred palate. The spice blend gives any dish an earthy flavor along with a bright yellow color. And thanks to so many seasoning profiles, curry bursts with flavor, making it the perfect addition to your tuna salad.

Curry has a strong flavor and smell, so you'll want to be careful not to overdo it. If you're meal prepping a pound of tuna salad, you'll need about 1 tablespoon of the spice blend. You can also start out using less and then add more to taste, which is a good method to ensure the curry doesn't overpower the dish. The tuna salad will also appear increasingly yellow in color as the curry powder is mixed in.

Acidity and sweetness will add a great flavor contrast to the curry powder, so don't be afraid to liven up the salad with some fresh grapes, dried fruit, or even a little lime juice. You can also build texture and crunch with veggies like carrots and red onion. When it comes to creaminess, you can go with the chef favorite Kewpie mayo or even add some plain Greek yogurt or sour cream for a tangy, rich flavor. You can then serve your curry dish on a classic tuna salad sandwich, lettuce wraps, or simply use it as a dip for crackers.