Classic California Tuna Salad, a California recipe
California

Classic California Tuna Salad

A vibrant and creamy salad inspired by the fresh flavors of California. This no-cook recipe combines flaky tuna, ripe avocado, juicy tomatoes, and crisp lettuce, all brought together with a simple mayonnaise dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or a quick, healthy dinner.

By CuocoMitra · Published · Updated 9 August 2026

tuna saladavocadono-cookquick
Total time
Prep
Serves
2
Per serving
391kcal
Difficulty
easy

Classic California Tuna Salad is a easy California recipe that serves 2 and takes 15 minutes. It uses 9 ingredients across 4 steps. Each serving provides about 391.2 calories.

Ingredients

9 ingredients for 2 servings. Open any ingredient for its nutrition detail.

  • Canned Tuna in Olive Oildrained well150 g
    SeafoodCanned fish

    In this recipe: 150 g, drained well

    Per 100 g

    Calories198 kcal
    Protein29g
    Carbs0g
    Fat8g
    Fiber0g

    Common portions

    100 g100 g
    drained 1 can80 g
    1 tbsp15 g
    Main proteinFishySavouryUmamiFlakyMoist
  • Romaine lettucewashed and roughly chopped200 g

    Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia

    VegetablesLeaf vegetables

    In this recipe: 200 g, washed and roughly chopped

    Per 100 g

    Calories17 kcal
    Protein1.23g
    Carbs3.29g
    Fat0.3g
    Fiber2.1g

    Common portions

    leaf inner 1 undetermined6 g
    leaf outer 1 undetermined28 g
    cup shredded 1 undetermined47 g
    NLEA serving 1 undetermined85 g
    BaseGarnishTexture enhancerMildFreshGrassy
  • Raw Avocadosripe, peeled, pitted, and sliced1 piece

    Persea americana

    VegetablesFruit vegetables

    In this recipe: 1 piece, ripe, peeled, pitted, and sliced

    Per 100 g

    Calories160 kcal
    Protein2g
    Carbs8.53g
    Fat14.7g
    Fiber6.7g

    Common portions

    NLEA Serving 1 undetermined50 g
    cup, sliced 1 undetermined146 g
    cup, cubes 1 undetermined150 g
    avocado, NS as to Florida or California 1 undetermined201 g
    Fat sourceCreamy baseGarnishNuttyButteryMild
  • Cherry Tomatoesrinsed and halved150 g

    CHERRY TOMATOES

    Pre-Packaged Fruit & Vegetablessr_legacy

    In this recipe: 150 g, rinsed and halved

    Per 100 g

    Calories127 kcal
    Protein2.22g
    Carbs10g
    Fat7.78g
    Fiber5.6g
    Salad componentGarnishSnackSweetTangyAcidic
  • Regular Mayonnaisefull-fat or light, to your preference45 g

    Salad dressing, mayonnaise, regular

    Fats and Oilssr_legacy

    In this recipe: 45 g, full-fat or light, to your preference

    Per 100 g

    Calories680 kcal
    Protein0.96g
    Carbs0.57g
    Fat74.8g
    Fiber0g

    Common portions

    packet 1 undetermined10 g
    tbsp 1 undetermined13.8 g
    cup 1 undetermined220 g
    EmulsifierBinderFat sourceTangyRichSavory
  • Red Onionfinely diced25 g

    RED ONION

    Pre-Packaged Fruit & Vegetablessr_legacy

    In this recipe: 25 g, finely diced

    Per 100 g

    Calories30 kcal
    Protein0.68g
    Carbs6.76g
    Fat0g
    Fiber1.4g
    AromaticFlavor enhancerGarnishPungentSharpSweet
  • Raw Lemon Juicefreshly squeezed15 ml

    Lemon juice, raw

    Fruits and Fruit Juicessr_legacy

    In this recipe: 15 ml, freshly squeezed

    Per 100 g

    Calories22 kcal
    Protein0.35g
    Carbs6.9g
    Fat0.24g
    Fiber0.3g

    Common portions

    wedge yields 1 undetermined5.9 g
    fl oz 1 undetermined30.5 g
    lemon yields 1 undetermined48 g
    cup 1 undetermined244 g
    AcidFlavor enhancerTenderizerSourCitrusBright
  • Black Pepperfreshly ground, to taste1 pinch

    Spices, pepper, black

    Herbs & Spicessr_legacy

    In this recipe: 1 pinch, freshly ground, to taste

    Per 100 g

    Calories251 kcal
    Protein10.4g
    Carbs64g
    Fat3.26g
    Fiber25.3g

    Common portions

    dash 1 undetermined0.1 g
    tsp, ground 1 undetermined2.3 g
    tsp, whole 1 undetermined2.9 g
    tbsp, ground 1 undetermined6.9 g
    SeasoningFlavor enhancerAromaticSpicyPungentEarthy
  • Plain Saltfine sea salt, to taste1 pinch

    PLAIN SALT

    Seasoning Mixes, Salts, Marinades & Tenderizerssr_legacy

    In this recipe: 1 pinch, fine sea salt, to taste

    Per 100 g

    Calories0 kcal
    Protein0g
    Carbs0g
    Fat0g
    Fiber

    Common portions

    1 g1.5 g
    Flavor enhancerSeasoningSaltyGrittyCrystalline

What you’ll need

9 tools across 4 steps.

  • Cutting boardEssentialsteps 1, 3
  • knife (if cutting)Essentialsteps 1, 3
  • salad bowlEssentialsteps 1, 4
  • plateEssentialstep 2
  • forkEssentialstep 2
  • Can openerEssentialstep 2
  • serving spoonEssentialstep 4
  • Salad spinnerstep 1
  • serving cupstep 3

Method

  1. 1

    Prepare the Vegetables

    Start by preparing your fresh ingredients.

    1. Wash and thoroughly dry the romaine lettuce. Chop it into bite-sized pieces and place it into a large salad bowl.
    2. Rinse the cherry tomatoes and slice them in half.
    3. Finely dice the red onion.

    For extra crisp lettuce, you can soak the leaves in ice water for 10 minutes after washing, then spin them dry.

  2. 2

    Mix the Tuna Dressing

    In a separate medium bowl, create the creamy tuna mixture.

    1. Drain the canned tuna completely.
    2. Add the drained tuna, 45 g of mayonnaise, and the diced red onion to the bowl.
    3. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
    4. Mix everything together until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

    For a lighter version, you can substitute half of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. For extra flavor, add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard.

  3. 3

    Prepare the Avocado

    The avocado adds the signature Californian creaminess.

    1. Cut the avocado in half lengthwise and remove the pit.
    2. Scoop out the flesh and slice or dice it, depending on your preference.
    3. Place the avocado pieces in a small bowl and gently toss with 15 ml of lemon juice. This will prevent it from browning.

    To easily remove the pit, carefully but firmly strike it with the blade of your knife, then twist to lift it out.

  4. 4

    Assemble and Serve

    Now it's time to bring it all together!

    1. Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the large bowl with the lettuce.
    2. Add a generous scoop of the tuna mixture on top of the greens.
    3. Arrange the avocado slices around the tuna.
    4. Serve immediately to enjoy the fresh textures and flavors.

    You can either serve it deconstructed as described, or gently toss everything together for a more integrated salad. Serve with a slice of whole-grain toast on the side for a more filling meal.

Nutrition

Per serving, across 2 servings.

Nutrition for Classic California Tuna Salad, per serving and for the whole recipe
NutrientPer servingWhole recipe
Calories391.2 kcal782.4 kcal
Protein4.7 g9.5 g
Carbohydrates18.8 g37.6 g
Fat34 g68 g
Fibre11.6 g23.2 g
Sodium594.8 mg1189.7 mg

Computed from the matched ingredient data rather than entered by hand, with 100% of ingredients matched. Treat it as a close estimate, not a clinical figure.

How it tastes

SavoryUmamiCreamyTangySaltyHerbaceous
Salty
2 out of 5
Sweet
1 out of 5
Sour
1 out of 5
Umami
3 out of 5
Herbal
3 out of 5
Rich
3 out of 5

Texture

CreamyFluffyJuicyCrispySoft

Mood

Light freshHealthy feelQuick easy

Good for

LunchDinnerSnack

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Questions about this recipe

How long does Classic California Tuna Salad take to make?
About 15 minutes from start to finish.
How many calories are in Classic California Tuna Salad?
Roughly 391.2 calories per serving, based on 2 servings. Each serving also has 4.74g protein, 18.82g carbohydrates, 34.02g fat. These figures are computed from the matched ingredient data rather than entered by hand.
Is Classic California Tuna Salad vegetarian or vegan?
No. This recipe contains meat, poultry or seafood, so it is neither vegetarian nor vegan.
What equipment do I need for Classic California Tuna Salad?
Cutting board, knife (if cutting), salad bowl, plate, fork, Can opener. Every tool the recipe calls for is listed above with the steps that use it.

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