How To Turn A Basic Can Of Tuna Into A Savory Smooth Mousse Dip

If canned tuna is a regular in your pantry, and you want to go beyond the simple tuna salad — mayo, salt and pepper, maybe some celery or relish — there's a way to transform it into a delicious dip. It's just one of the many ways to upgrade canned tuna, and it only takes a few minutes, made with ingredients you probably already have in the kitchen. We reached out to a professional to give us some tips. Charlotte Langley, Founder and CEO of Nice Cans, a canned food brand that's dedicated to expanding flavor, freshness, and sustainability of tinned fish, is the perfect expert to explain how to turn your canned tuna into an amazing appetizer with just a few steps.

"Transforming canned tuna into a luxurious mousse dip is delightfully simple," Langley says. "Start by draining the tuna well, then blend it with a touch of cream cheese or crème fraîche for creaminess, a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a dash of Dijon mustard, and a splash of quality olive oil." From there, Langley says you can season it with fresh dill, smoked paprika, or a simple grind of cracked black pepper. She continues, "The result is a silky, savory mousse that elevates humble canned tuna to gourmet status."

While there is a difference between tuna canned in oil or water, for this preparation, you can use either. Tuna in oil, of course, already has oil mixed in. Even after draining, it will have more fat and flavor, so you may not need to add as much olive oil in the recipe. If you need some help choosing the can, Chowhound's ranking of canned tuna could be a help. Just make sure not to overblend your ingredients. You want something dippable and smooth, but not overmixed, so that it turns out like a tuna smoothie.

As for the dipping apparatus, Charlotte Langley says, "Crisp, neutral-flavored crackers like water crackers or crostini are ideal to let the mousse shine. For vegetables, crunchy cucumber slices, endive leaves, vibrant radishes, and sweet bell pepper strips offer delightful textural contrasts and fresh flavor that beautifully complement the rich mousse." If you want more intense flavor, you can add it right to the dip — try some dried Italian herbs or even a little hot sauce.

But if it's part of a larger meal, Langley says it's best to avoid anything that might overshadow or fight against the delicate flavors of the tuna. "Strongly flavored cheese crackers, heavily seasoned chips, or overly sweet fruits might clash rather than harmonize with the subtle seafood profile of the dip," she says. So, start with the mild but flavorful tuna base and think about what it goes well with. It could be a full meal, or as simple as a glass of white wine.