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Tzatziki Chickpea Tuna Salad + Giveaway Winner

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I did something I haven’t done since I was in middle school.

 

I ate canned tuna.  My mom used to make tuna salad every Sunday after church.  She mixed in pickles, apples, onion, mayo… it was a hodge podge.  Every Sunday.  One day I decided I no longer liked seafood, and that was the last of the tuna for me.

This was not me.

 

The Chicken of the Sea (canned tuna) is a cornerstone of the bodybuilding diet.  In my quest for new ways to add protein to my diet, it was only a matter of time until tuna salad had to return.  It’s easy to make, portable, and is actually better on day 2.  It’s also filled with protein, fat-free (if you get it packed in water), and has virtually no bards.  The perfect lunch to take to work.  

 

When I decided to give it a go, I knew I had to do something different (no offense, Mom).

In my salad, I incorporated smashed chickpeas for a variation in texture.  The ‘peas were easier for me to think about eating than tuna.  

If you are vegetarian, this would be a great salad with just the chickpeas!

 

Mayo is (of course) not permitted on my nutrition plan, so I opted for a version of tzatziki sauce to stir into my salad.  This slimmed-down version of the Greek classic is Greek yogurt-based, adding even more protein.  It is also full of flavor from the herbs and garlic, leaving no trace of fishiness in the salad.  Watch out for garlic breath though!

 

The verdict?  I’ve taken this for lunch twice this week.  Apparently I really like tuna salad.  Winner, winner… chicken-of-the-sea dinner!

Note: I made my chickpeas from dried peas rather than canned to keep the sodium low.  If you do this and have left over, try roasting them for a fun snack like I did here.

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Before the winner dinner recipe, I suppose you guys are more interested in the winner of The Simply Bar Giveaway?

Congratulations to….

Layla!!!

You are the winner of a sample pack of Simply Bars.  Send me an email with your address and I’ll pass it along to the Simply Bar crew. 🙂

Thank you all for entering, and for sharing your goals.  Click here and read through the comments – they are really inspiring!

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Tzatziki Tuna Chickpea Salad

For the Salad:

  • 1 can of tuna (packed in water)
  • 1/2 C chickpeas, smashed
  •  1/2 C red pepper, diced
  • Cilantro (optional, for garnish)

 

For the Sauce:

  • 1 container Greek yogurt
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1T chopped yellow onion
  • 1/4 C fresh dill
  • 1/4 C fresh cilantro
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • Zest of 1/2 lemon
  • 1/2 large jalapeno
  • 1/2 large cucumber, finely chopped

 

For the Salad:

Combine salad ingredients in a medium bowl.  Set aside.

 

For the Sauce:

Place all ingredients except cucumber into blender and blend until smooth.

Stir in diced cucumber and enjoy!

 

Makes 2 servings, with some sauce leftover.

***

I saw on Nightline last night that chin implants are the fastest growing plastic surgery procedure… because people don’t like the way they look online.  Wow.

Is there a meal from your childhood that you still can’t/won’t eat as an adult?  Meatloaf, anyone?

Would you ever get a chin-plant?

 

Comments

  3. canned tuna was something I Never used to eat but now that I shop for myself, i find it as a cheap protein source that you can do so much with. Great recipe, I need to try it.

  4. I have a hit or miss relationship with tuna…right now we’re in the miss part although I might have to try the tzatziki & chickpea combo…sounds yum! Funny you mention meat loaf- I love that stuff….good memories of eating it as a kid with mashed potatoes and a heck lot of gravy!

    • Ok… so I cannot eat “real” meatloaf because my mom was making me eat it when I was 5 and I threw up. #meatloaffail

  5. I have always, since I was a kid, loved canned tuna.

    And this is sort of weird, but I never liked hamburgers. I mean, as a kid, I liked the McDonalds type, but when my dad would make burgers on the grill, I never wanted them. I just don’t and still don’t like the taste of red meat.

    • Same for me! Except I did develop an appreciation for gourmet burgers, and to this day I have never eaten a fast food burger.

  7. Hahaha chin implants?! What the heck!! I mean ok a little botox here and there isn’t the end of the world but CHIN IMPLANTS?! I have a ridiculously strong (code for manly) jaw anyway so definitely no temptation here! Haha!

  8. Oh my gosh, YAAAAY!!!! So exciting, thank you! Will email you now. 🙂

    I’m going to have to try the tuna with the tzatziki sauce….I can’t stand the fishy smell or taste! If it covers it up, consider me a fan.

    • They should be on their way to you soon! 🙂

      Let me know if you try it. It really does hide the fish!

  10. I am still not a fan of fish… tuna however, I don’t mind once in awhile, will try this one. And no, no chin plant for me!

  12. Oh, to add on to the chin implans craze, Korea’s newest obsession is jaw implants. I have no words….Women just want to have really sharp chin…but then I feel like it makes them all look like ants..wide forehead + pointy chin =no thanks!
    Anyway, the recipe looks great! As always..I used to eat a lot of canned tuna, but I recently switched to salmon. I love the Wild Alaskan canned salmon from Costco!
    I actually miss my mom’s cooking! I miss her…

  13. Canned tuna definitely has to be done right.. if not, it sucks. Tuna casserole? No thank you…. I used to make a great tuna spread with mustard, garlic and pesto… Sounds odd, but it was very good!

    • I can promise you that you will never, ever see tuna casserole on this blog!

      I think that combo sounds great! I bet you could do that with a smashed chickpea salad now. Maybe with some chopped kale or spinach? Yum!

  14. Beautiful salad you’ve got here, looks fresh and colorful. I ‘m making that sauce I have all the ingredients and just bought fresh cilantro yesterday. I am growing cilantro but it isn’t quite ready to snip. Have a great weekend.

    • Thanks! Let me know what you think. I wish I could grow fresh herbs – so convenient and a great money saver.

  16. My mom used to make something that we called vermon (I have no idea why). Yeah, it sounds as good as it was. I’m gagging a little just thinking about it. It was chicken flavored rice (Rice-A_Roni) mixed with canned tuna and she served it with canned peas…UGH! It was vile and disgusting. I still can’t stand the smell of canned peas. I don’t mind frozen that are barely cooked, but only cold on a salad or in a soup…NEVER alone.

    Canned tuna will forever remind me of my cat Maggie that passed away 3 years ago. She would go crazy over the stuff if we opened a can. We spoiled her and were give her treats ever once in a while…I miss my girl.

    I will tell you, when I ate canned tuna, my favorite way to have it was with marinated artichoke hearts, fresh tomato, salt and pepper. It seemed lighter and more Mediteranean (sort of…if you close your eyes and imagine it).

    • You are going to think I’m kidding, but I swear I have heard of vermon before! Is it a Southern thing?

      Poor kitty. 🙁 I miss my Twinkle… she liked American cheese.

  17. What?! Why does your chin make a difference how you look online?! That is so bizarre. Your version of Tuna Salad sounds awesome! I can’t lie- I love tuna salad… the regular way… but this looks way better! I will be trying this next time I buy canned tuna (in probably, two years…) I’ve had the same can of tuna sitting in my pantry since I moved into my apartment over a year and a half ago. Probably should check the date and toss it…. haha gah I’m so gross!

    • They said people are just noticing it more due to things like Skype and FB pics.

      P.S. Throw out that old tuna! LOL!

  18. Oh man. I’m with you on tuna. My roommate has a can like every day. Barney can’t get enough but the smell makes me want to vomit. I might have to try your newly revamped tuna salad.

    Egg salad also makes me want to vom.

      • Okay — so I’m NOT crazy. Thank you. Everybody is all about eggs. I like scrambled. I can’t do the egg yolk at all.

        PS I did oats in a jar last week. Not as epic as described, but next time I’ll follow a recipe so i know how much to put in. I put in too much liquid!

    • Whaaaaat?! Glut. This is healthy. You’ll need to have dessert. And a mineral-y white.

  22. This looks great! I’m not a tuna fan, but leaving it out would probably still make it taste as good!! Haha, chin implants. I think my chin is fine, so I doubt I’d ever get a chin implant that seems like a bit too much for me…but whatever floats your boat!

    • It definitely does! I used the sauce today on smashed chickpeas with broccoli slaw and parsnip rice. 🙂

    • Thanks! What do you usually do? I bet you could mix it with cottage cheese… 🙂

  25. My Mom makes wonderful meatloaf 🙂 She puts sweet chill thai sauce in it! YUM! <3

    Anyways, this looks great, hunnie! I want to go and make the sauce now! 🙂

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