This is what happens when you take a tin of good tuna and pair it with homemade smoky mayo. The smoke from the vinegar transforms a five-minute lunch into something genuinely special. The cucumber pickle brightens it and brings some tang, the celery adds freshness and crunch, and all the better if it's on a fresh piece of sourdough.
Ingredients
The Tuna Mayo
- 1 tin tuna in oil, drained (preferably Sirena — the yellow tin (light olive oil))
- 3-5 tablespoons smoky mayo
- 3–4 tablespoons cucumber pickle, finely diced
- 1/2 stalk celery, finely diced
- Salt and pepper to taste
To Serve
- Fresh sourdough bread, sliced
Optional Extras
- A splash of pickle juice (for extra tang)
- Fresh dill, roughly chopped
- Fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- Chilli
Method
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Make your smoky mayoIf you haven't already, make a batch of smoky mayo. It takes about 5 minutes and keeps in the fridge for up to a week — so you'll have plenty for this and more.
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Prep and mixDrain the tuna and tip it into a mixing bowl. Break it up with a fork — you want it flaked but not mashed to a paste. Finely dice the cucumber pickle and celery. Add them to the bowl along with 3–5 tablespoons of smoky mayo. Mix everything together until well combined.Tip: The Sirena yellow tin (tuna in light olive oil) has great flavour and texture. It's worth seeking out — it makes a real difference. Alternatively the yellow tin from Aldi is also very good
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SeasonAdd salt and pepper to taste. If you want more tang, add a splash of pickle juice from the cucumber pickle jar. For freshness, throw in some roughly chopped dill or parsley (or both).
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Serve on sourdoughPile the tuna mayo generously onto slices of fresh sourdough. Don't be shy — this is a sandwich that rewards abundance. Serve immediately.
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Optional: make it crispyButter the top and bottom of the sourdough and whack it in the sandwich press, sprinkle salt when done.
What makes this different
The secret is entirely in the mayo. Regular tuna mayo is great — but when the mayonnaise itself carries a subtle smokiness from the smoked vinegar, every bite has this depth that makes people ask "what's in this?"
Share your creations
I'd love to see what you make! Find me on Instagram or email me at [email protected].