The Overlooked Canned Vegetable Your Tuna Salad Is Missing For Added Crunch

Tuna salad may have some humdrum school lunch connotations, but this mayo-based wonder just needs the right mix-ins to spark some gustatory excitement. If your primary issue is tuna salad's lack of textural interest, we have the perfect filling: water chestnuts.

Water chestnuts are actually tubers, not nuts, which grow mostly in wet areas. They're typically found in cans in the United States, though you may be able to find them fresh in Asian supermarkets or specialty food stores online. They taste almost like apples in their fresh state, while their canned counterparts are rather mild in flavor and are mostly added to foods for their nice, crunchy texture.

It's this crunch that makes canned water chestnuts a wonderful addition to a batch of tuna salad. Their almost non-existent flavor means you needn't tailor your salad recipe to the new addition, and it makes a great swap for anyone who doesn't like the taste of celery but wants a similar pop in texture. To add them, simply drain, chop into small chunks or discs, mix into your tuna salad, et voilà! You have a super crunchy, delicious take on tuna salad.

The most obvious move to accommodate water chestnuts is to give your tuna salad an Asian-inspired twist. After all, this canned ingredient is often used in stir fries and fried rice dishes. Start small by adding a few other key ingredients, such as sesame seeds, which add both crunch and a toasty taste. You can also add a bit of miso paste for an umami kick. Alternatively, adding a few squirts of sriracha brings a sweet, spicy, tangy kick that's beyond delicious.

Meanwhile, curry powder brings a punch of aromatic flavor. Just don't add too many flavorings, or they can become overpowering; stick to one or two to curate a focused, impactful flavor profile. For example, if you're using miso, pair it with sesame seeds to complement its umami flavor and add a bit of ginger for brightness, while avoiding adding sriracha or curry. If you're using sriracha, that, along with crunchy chestnuts, can be the star of the show. The key is to keep your inspiration focused on your intended flavor profile.