Carrot and Tuna Salad
This Carrot and Tuna Salad combines pantry staples with a few fresh ingredients for a light, satisfying, and protein-packed dish! Serve this delicious recipe as a side dish, sandwich filling, bento side, or low-carb main course. {Vegan/Vegetarian Adaptable}

- Prep time
- 20 min
- Cook time
- No separate cook time
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 2 carrots ((10 oz, 290 g))
- ½ red onion ((3 oz, 90 g))
- 1 can albacore tuna (preferably packed in olive oil)
- ½ Tbsp toasted black sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar (unseasoned)
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- 1
Gather all the ingredients.
- 2
To Prepare the Ingredients
- 3
Peel 2 carrots with a vegetable peeler. Then, cut the carrots into thin, long strips with a julienne peeler. You can also julienne with your knife using the hosogiri cutting technique.
- 4
Save any leftover pieces of carrot that you can't peel to use in another dish later. Place the julienned carrots in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with a damp paper towel.
- 5
Cook the carrots in the microwave for 1 minute (1000W) to lightly soften them. Remove the paper towel and let cool.
- 6
Thinly slice ½ red onion. Soak the sliced onion in a bowl of cold water to remove the bitterness.
- 7
To Make the Dressing
- 8
Meanwhile, make the dressing. To a large mixing bowl, add 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 2 Tbsp rice vinegar (unseasoned), 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp soy sauce, ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper, and ½ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
- 9
Combine with a whisk. Cut the lemon in half (reserve the extra lemon for garnish). Squeeze 2 tsp lemon juice into the dressing and whisk again.
- 10
To Toss the Salad
- 11
Drain 1 can albacore tuna (preferably packed in olive oil) and add the tuna to the bowl. Break it into small pieces and coat with the dressing.
- 12
Then, add the cooled carrots and toss with the tuna.
- 13
Squeeze the water from the onion slices and add them to the bowl.
- 14
Add most of the ½ Tbsp toasted black sesame seeds to the bowl (reserving some for garnish) and give everything another toss.
- 15
Cover the bowl and marinate the salad in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Transfer the Carrot and Tuna Salad to a serving plate.
- 16
To Serve
- 17
Garnish with the remaining sesame seeds, optional lemon wedge, and optional parsley sprigs. Enjoy!
- 18
To Store
- 19
Place the leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days or in the freezer for a month.