Avocado-Tuna Salad with Cucumber Noodles

Avocado-Tuna Salad with Cucumber Noodles

Last week, I shared an Instagram picture of my lunch: romaine lettuce “cups” packed with...

Avocado-Tuna Salad with Cucumber Noodles

Last week, I shared an Instagram picture of my lunch: romaine lettuce “cups” packed with an avocado-tuna mash.

Based on all the “ah, we have to try this!” comments, I decided to take it up a notch and turn it into an even better lunch with spiralized cucumbers!

The spiralized cucumbers not only “beef” up the lunch, but they make it more enjoyable to eat and more refreshing (perfect for those times when you need a crunchy freshness on a hot summer day!)

Avocado-Tuna Salad with Cucumber Noodles

I’ve been eating this avocado-tuna combo a little too often, I admit. Whenever I eat canned tuna, I make sure it’s Wild Planet brand. Not only is their tuna sustainably caught (it’s pole caught, so they don’t use fish farms!), they also use smaller, younger fish, so the mercury levels are lower.

Quick note: the older and larger the tuna, the more mercury the fish has accumulated, an account of time.

Anyway, everything’s okay in moderation!

Avocado-Tuna Salad with Cucumber Noodles

I’ve always been guilty of the lunch rut (eating the same thing every single day for lunch.) When I was in middle school, I’m pretty sure I made my mother make me at least 450 peanut butter and fluff sandwiches. Eventually, in late middle school, I upgraded to the ham and cheese sandwich.

In high school, I really found my stride and consumed probably 1,000 roast turkey sandwiches. No joke.

I am a big sandwich lover (who isn’t?)

Avocado-Tuna Salad with Cucumber Noodles

Moral of the story is, it’s easy to get into a lunch rut, but there’s fun ways to jazz up those lunches – and make them healthier. Ditching the bun for something less processed is popular nowadays at restaurants and healthy food blogs (especially the gluten-free ones!)

So, instead of two pieces of bread, we’re using cucumber noodles to make this a full, satisfying and hearty lunch. I love romaine lettuce cups also, but these spiralized cucumbers are way more fun to eat – plus, I usually gobble up sandwiches in a few bites because they’re messy. With these noodles, the tuna-avocado mixture goes a bit longer.

What are your favorite ways to go bunless?

Nutritional Information & Recipe

Weight Watchers SmartPoints*: 4 points

Inspiralized

Avocado-Tuna Salad with Cucumber Noodles

Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe avocado peeled and pitted
  • 12 oz canned white albacore tuna in water
  • 1.5 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 5 tablespoons Greek yogurt
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 seedless cucumbers Blade B

Instructions

  • Place the avocado in a medium bowl and mash it with the back of a fork. Add in the tuna, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard and season with salt and pepper. Add in the cucumber noodles and toss together. Save for later or serve immediately.

 

with love, Ali

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Recipe Rating




comments

  • I have been making something like this for some time. I like your addition of mustard I am going to try this. "My" version is pretty much the same but I do not use Greek yogurt - instead I use WHITE balsamic vinegar. Adds a nice tang/punch, plush keeps the avocado from oxidizing. I am going to try your Greek yogurt version when I want something a bit richer. Thanks for the recipe!
  • I'm going to try this with Salmon and add dill!
    • That's a GREAT idea!
  • HA! I thought I was the only one that came up with the avocado/tuna mash up except I dice up a whole avocado, mix it with a pouch of Starkist Tuna, add Mrs Dash Southwest Chipotle and Chipotle Tabasco and just eat it with a spoon! Great idea Ali!
  • […] Brownies via Gimme Some Oven Toastless Oatmeal French Toast via Rabbit Food for My Bunny Teeth Avocado-Tuna Salad with Cucumber Noodles via […]
  • I love this recipe idea! The combination of cucumber with seafood is really lovely, and we will be trying this one out at home soon! Here is a link for a cucumber and shrimp recipe as well! http://www.ambitiouslyhealthy.com/2015/04/spirlaized-cucumber-and-grilled-shrimp.html
  • I love this recipe idea! The combination of cucumber with seafood is really lovely, and we will be trying this one out at home soon! Here is a link for a cucumber and shrimp recipe as well! http://www.ambitiouslyhealthy.com/2015/04/spirlaized-cucumber-and-grilled-shrimp.html
  • I made this last night and I'm disappointed. It is quite bland and I keep adding salt. Also, I brought a container of it to work for lunch and there is more than 1/4 c. of liquid in the bottom and the cucumber is mush.
    • I just made this for lunch today with the hopes of having it at least tomorrow for lunch too. Hopefully mine doesn't end up too soggy.
  • This was so amazing! I used chicken that I had made in the slow cooker and shredded. It was so good. A new favorite. Thank you so much.
  • My daughter is not a fan of cucumber but when I made this she couldn't get enough. We can't do dairy so I substituted a non-gmo soy yogurt for the greek yougurt. Will have to try Stacey suggestion of the vinegar and see how tht tastes as well! I downloadd the app for my iphone and LOVE IT!!!
  • Hi Ali - love your blog & recipes I made this tuna & cucumber & loved it, however the next day it was very watery. I think next time I will either eat it all or maybe try & pat dry the cukes. I have another? about the blades mine machine only has 3 & in some recipes you refer to blade D & in this recipe you use blade B but mine is A are the machines different?
  • Made and ate this today and it was a success for all 4 of us (a 3yo, an 8yo and 2 adults) but I can imagine it turning watery if I had saved it for tomorrow's lunch break... Still a keeper.
  • This is a very light and yummy combination of flavors. My recommendation is always try out just as Ali has noted in her recipe. Once you have tried several of Ali's recipes you naturally become inspired to modify her lovely creations. Take this one for example, after reading the feedback I did not use any of the liquid from the tuna, I added a little bit of fresh lime juice (acidity needed for the avocado) and after tasting it modified it by adding some fresh diced jalapenos. That did the trick! Will definitely keep this one when I need a quick and healthy meal in less than 5 minutes!!!!
  • Like Maria (above), I modified this a bit, by adding a big, extra dollop of Dijon and some lemon juice. I think a little cayenne might be good too, but I couldn't stop eating long enough to try that. Maybe next time — there will definitely be a next time in my kitchen for this simple summer recipe. Such a refreshing and tasty dish! Thanks, Ali.
  • OMG!! I can't wait for my inspiralizer!!! I want to try this first!!
  • I made this today for lunch and it was yummy! I added scallion and 1T of mayo and I also used zucchini instead of cucumber. The cucumbers always get too watery for me.
  • This is super yummy!! :)) I mashed the tuna and avo first and them had to restrain myself not to eat it before combining with the rest of ingredients! I added a bit of lemon juice as suggested above and little bit of mayo and few drops of sriracha sauce for a bit of a kick. So easy to make and absolutely divine! :) Thank you for sharing!
  • Eating this now, super delicious, light and healthy! I used a lil mayo because I didn't have greek yogurt. Added red pepper flakes and dill too. Love your recipes/blog/website!
    • Yes! Let us know how it turns out!
  • If you add a whole cucumber it’s a lot better and ellonos plain Greek yogurt was good for it
    • Thanks for giving this a shot and modifying! Sounds great!