Change Up Tuna Salad Sandwiches With One Fresh And Sliced Ingredient

Tuna salad sandwiches are one of the most classic, comforting sandwiches. They're easy to make, full of protein, and endlessly customizable — making them easy to love, so long as you enjoy canned tuna. Everyone has their own secret to making their tuna salad their own, whether it's adding a quick condiment or a simple dressing swap. For example, there's one ingredient that'll give your tuna salad a fresh, bright flavor: chopped cherry tomatoes.

Due to the presence of mayonnaise, tuna salad can be incredibly rich and creamy. This is why ingredients like lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and pickle juice are common additions; the presence of acidity helps to balance out that rich flavor and texture. Tomatoes might not be as acidic as lemon juice, but they are acidic and incredibly fresh-tasting — especially if you find locally-grown ones — giving your tuna salad that necessary balance.

To add cherry tomatoes, you can either cut them in half or quarter them. Either way, you don't want them to be so big that they fall out of your sandwich instantly. Add them to your tuna salad recipe alongside the rest of the ingredients, and that's it. It's an easy addition, but it's worth it for a super fresh and well-balanced meal.

If you already have a go-to acidic ingredient, you might not feel the need to add an extra one; after all, too much acidity can take away from the tuna salad's overall flavor. However, if you have cherry tomatoes sitting around, roasting them is another way to use them that will draw out their sweetness rather than their acidity. It's an especially great way to boost the flavor of fresh cherry tomatoes. 

Through the process of caramelization, tomatoes become less tart and acidic and more rich and sweet. Additionally, because the roasting process evaporates their high water content, their skins become softer. This makes them even easier to enjoy on a sandwich, since there's less of a risk of them falling out. Paired with tuna, you create an umami effect that's hard to pass up.

Once you've made the perfect roasted tomatoes, you can either chop them up and incorporate them directly into or on top of your tuna salad. Alternatively, since the roasting process softens them up, you can simply spread them onto your sandwich bread. Whichever way you choose to do it, cherry tomatoes will become your go-to ingredient next time tuna salad is on the menu.