Easy Tuna Dip Recipe
Jump To Recipe
- Pamela
- November 20, 2018
- 20 Comments
Categories: Feature, Appetizers, Gluten-free/gluten-free adaptable, Recipes, Seafood
I don’t usually post a Thanksgiving recipe this week because I like to assume we’ve all committed to our menus by this point! But I know something that I wouldn’t turn down right now is a super fast, easy, healthful appetizer recipe that could be made with pantry staples in 5 minutes flat. Tell you more? Of course.
There aren’t too many canned foods that I keep on hand, but canned tuna is one of them. Those of you who have been hanging out here for a while know I have loved canned tuna as long as I can remember. And I thank my lucky stars that all of my kids love it, too. Tuna is the reason I have mayo in the fridge. It saves me when I have no idea what to make for lunch when there’s nothing in the fridge. Tuna adds protein to my salads and even my stir-fries when I need it. And I genuinely love it out of the can with a fork, although I like it better in an avocado half with a squirt of sriracha. One of my favorite salads ever is the Italian Tuna Salad with White Beans in my cookbook. Then there’s the Nicoise Salad on my website – a summer staple. My son is obsessed with my tuna patties.
I also recommend canned tuna for anyone who wants an economical, wild-caught, high Omega-3 fish. Chicken of the Sea recently reached out to me knowing that I am a canned tuna fan and offered to share their newly formulated chunk light tuna, which they proudly conveyed to me has improved texture and taste, as well as more chunks of tuna. Honestly, I already like all kinds of tuna, so what I was more interested in was:
- is it wild caught? Yes!
- is it preservative-free? Yes!
- dolphin-safe? Yes!
And Chicken of the Sea has tracking system in place which I didn’t even know existed. You can trace the source of your fish from the code on the bottom of the can. I tried it and it worked. Very cool!
I am sharing a recipe I grew up with but tweaked a little to make it even more nutritious, but just as easy and tasty. It’s a version of an Italian tuna spread called Crema di Tonno or Mousse di Tonno. It is usually made with oil-packed tuna and either mayonnaise, butter, or soft kind of soft, spreadable cheese. You blend it in a food processor with some capers, lemon juice and anchovies, although I think you could easily do without them. So easy! We would serve this dip with crostini (i.e. toast.) Instead, I am swapping cooked white beans for the mayo and I am using tuna packed in water plus additional olive oil. Not only was this dip I actually like this version better because it is less loose than the kind I remember, and more spreadable.
I love anything on toast, but to make this more appealing to the gluten-free and grain-free folks, I serve the dip with fresh, crunchy crudites. Cucumber, endive, carrots and celery are all no brainers. But bell pepper, boiled potatoes (remember the Nicoise salad mentioned above) and cherry tomatoes would all be a perfect match. I would absolutely serve this with drinks on Thanksgiving, any holiday gathering, or general entertaining! So when you’re picking up those last minute items for your holiday meal, don’t forget to grab a few cans of tuna. You’ll always have a way to enjoy it! Here’s wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving!
Shop the recipe tools for this recipe by clicking on the images below:
5.0 from 2 reviews
Save Print
Easy Tuna Dip
Author:Pamela
Serves:approximately 1 cup
Ingredients
- 1 6 or 7-ounce can or jar of tuna packed in water, drained
- ½ cup cooked white beans, such as Cannelini or Great Northern, drained and rinsed if canned (you can also use same amount cream cheese or mayonnaise)
- 4 Tablespoons unrefined, cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil + extra for drizzling
- 1 Tablespoon capers, drained + extra for garnish
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon anchovy paste
- 2 medium garlic cloves, smashed
- a few grinds of freshly ground black pepper
- sea salt, if necessary
- fresh flat leaf parsley for garnish, finely chopped
- Suggested accompaniments: crackers or crostini, endive leaves, cucumber rounds, carrot sticks
Instructions
- In the bowl of the food processor fitted with the metal blade, place the tuna, white beans, olive oil, capers, lemon juice, anchovy paste, garlic and black pepper. Pulse until combined. Or alternatively puree for a smooth dip. Taste for seasoning.
- Spread the dip in a shallow bowl and drizzle with extra olive oil, plus a sprinkle of capers and parsley. Serve with desired accompaniments or place a spoonful on a cucumber round, endive leaf or cracker.
Related Recipes
Roasted Carrots with Calabrian Chili Yogurt and Mint Recipe
Wedge Salad with Creamy Dressing Recipe
Collard Greens Salad with Lemon-Parmesan Dressing
Cabbage Cacio e Pepe Recipe
Red Lentil Tortilla Soup Recipe
Crustless Spinach Feta Pie Recipe
Pasta alla Vodka Recipe
Dinner Planner – Week of February 12, 2024
Comments
Kelly
How long does this dip stay good for in the fridge?
- Reply
- Link
PamelaModerator
2-3 days should be fine
- Reply
- Link
Jaime
Another Pamela Salzman recipe success! Made with canned salmon. Also didn’t have anchovy paste so added extra capers and a couple kalamata olives/juice. Layered on top of toasted base culture bread with tomato slices, fresh parsley, and lettuce. Planning to make plenty more times this summer! So delish! Thank you!
- Reply
- Link
PamelaModerator
Wow! That sounds amazing! I may have to try your version. Glad you gave this recipe a try.
- Reply
- Link
Alene
I love this idea, and I am making it this morning to have later. If anyone is worried about a fishy taste, I buy a mercury free tuna, in packets, that is very mild, at Costco. I used to eat tuna a lot and began to collect mercury in my body and brain. Most people get rid of it naturally, and I can’t, for some reason. I have gotten my mercury level way down by not eating big fish at all anymore, which is heartbreaking. Thus, mercury free tuna at Costco! I was so excited when I found it, because I hadn’t eaten it in years. Too much information, lol, but a little heads up about mercury.
- Reply
- Link
PamelaModerator
That’s so great to hear! Thank you for sharing, Alene.
- Reply
- Link
CindyP
I love anchovies, but the paste was too fishy. Could you sub a tablespoon of anchovies?
- Reply
- Link
PamelaModerator
Absolutely!
- Reply
- Link
Sheri
Is there a substitution for the anchovy paste or could I just leave it out? Not a huge fan of it
- Reply
- Link
PamelaModerator
You can omit it or use more capers in its place.
- Reply
- Link
Kathleen Gibbons
Pamela,
Made this for a light lunch today– delicious! I doubled the recipe to have some leftover. We had it with sliced veggies and toasted whole grain bread. Will make it again, it’s so easy!- Reply
- Link
Pamela SalzmanModerator
So glad you enjoyed it!
- Reply
- Link
Michele Giardina
We wanted to love this but my family said it was way to fishy ro enjoy.
- Reply
- Link
Pamela SalzmanModerator
Bummer. You can try using an albacore tuna next time or adding in something bland like cream cheese to temper the fish.
- Reply
- Link
Ana
Hi Pamela! Your recipes are amazing! Do you think this would work in a blender? If so, any tips?
Thanks!!
Ana- Reply
- Link
Pamela SalzmanModerator
Sure! But a blender will puree it all the way and you’ll probably have to scrape the sides of the blender a few times since there’ s not a lot of stuff to work with. But it should be fine 🙂
- Reply
- Link
Marco DiMaccio
PS, you’re always spot on with a twist of special. Thanks for posting on such a busy week.
- Reply
- Link
Pamela SalzmanModerator
🙂
- Reply
- Link
Would garbanzo beans works as a sub for white beans?
- Reply
- Link
PamelaModerator
Totally! I would pulse them up first in a food processor or blender and then add the rest of the ingredients.
- Reply
- Link
Add a Comment
Signup to receive updates about new recipes and more
I come from a large Italian-American family with 28 first cousins (on one side of the family!) where sit-down holiday dinners for 85 people are the norm (how, you might ask – organization! But more on that later …).
Some of my fondest memories are of simple family gatherings, both large and small, with long tables of bowls and platters piled high, the laughter of my cousins echoing and the comfort of tradition warming my soul.
