I Add This Unexpected Ingredient to My Tuna Salad for the Perfect Hint of Spice

When I was younger, my mom made me a tuna sandwich for school lunch every single day, and she always stuck to her classic recipe—albacore tuna, a touch of mayonnaise, chopped celery, and a pinch of salt and pepper. 

Now, just like my mom, I make tuna for myself and my family every week—but with one difference: I’m always tweaking the recipe, trying to create the perfect tuna salad. Sometimes I crave that “bagel shop” style—tuna mixed so finely with mayo that it’s almost velvety, like it’s been blended. But most of the time, I love to make something a bit more elevated by adding fresh chopped herbs like dill or parsley, a bit of bite from onions or shallots, and a hit of acidity from capers, lemons, cornichons, or chopped pepperoncini. 

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with pepperoncini; they add a perfect punch of zest and tang, and just the right amount of heat. And it’s not just the chopped peppers themselves — I’ve started adding a few splashes of the brine instead of lemon juice to my tuna salad, which really ties everything together. 

Adding pepperoncini juice to tuna salad does more than just boost flavor—it elevates the entire dish. The tangy, slightly acidic brine cuts through the richness of the mayo and tuna, creating a brighter, more balanced flavor in the finished dish. The vinegar, salt, and spices in the pepperoncini brine add depth and complexity, while the acidity helps tenderize the tuna, making it softer and creamier. The mildly spicy pepperoncini juice also enhances moisture, preventing the tuna from developing a dry texture, and boosts the overall umami with a savory, salty kick. It’s a simple upgrade that takes your mom’s classic tuna from good to next-level delicious.

To make this zesty, bright tuna salad at home, follow the steps below:

1. Mash tuna together with mayonnaise, small-diced celery, salt, pepper, and glug of pepperoncini juice in a small bowl with a fork.
2. Continue mashing and mixing the tuna until it reaches your desired texture. You can also add other mix-ins, such as diced pepperoncinis, capers, or a finely chopped shallot, as well as fresh herbs like dill or parsley. The choice is yours!

Other Tasty Tuna Mix-ins

If you like pepperoncini juice in your tuna salad, try to mix in the below ingredients (in place of it or in addition to it) as well. Like pepperoncini juice, these ingredients will add plenty of moisture and flavor to your tuna. For a heartier tuna salad, feel free to add dry ingredients such as olives, chopped pickles, chopped fennel, or diced tomato.

• Relish
• Your favorite creamy salad dressing, such as Caesar or ranch
• Greek yogurt
• Dijon or honey mustard
• Lemon juice
• Olive brine
• Pickle juice