Save the Tuna! Raw Mock Tuna Salad

Mock Tuna Salad

There was a time that I used to eat tuna or moreover albacore salad almost daily. I was very picky about it too.  It had to be like my mom made it without many fillers and lightly held together with mayo. Key points were: not watery, a little onion, celery, salt and lemon pepper and just enough mayo to hold it together. Definitely nothing that would detract from the taste like egg or pickle relish (what is up with that?!)

Once after a friend came back from a deep sea fishing trip with fresh canned albacore, we had albacore for months and I was forever spoiled. It was white meat albacore from then on. 

After some really awful tuna salad experiences in restaurants, I even went so far as to start asking for samples before ordering tuna salad. It's amazing how few places serve good tuna salad. When we had a restaurant that was a key menu item- the best albacore tuna salad ever! and our patrons really appreciated it.

What I am really saying is I was a tuna fish salad snob! and proud of it.

When news came about the concerns with mercury link to fish and most notably tuna, I stopped this favorite almost overnight. I was very sad. 

Now there are also other reasons I don't eat fish often or even at all.  But there are times, I really miss my salad favorite. Today was one of them.

So I whipped up this mock tuna salad to satisfy that desire and it really fits the bill.  It doesn't taste exactly like tuna- really how could it? But it does taste really good and reminds me of my old favorite.



Save the Tuna! Mock Tuna Salad

Mock Tuna- raw vegan ingredients

Ingredients:

For Pate:

2 cups of hulled sunflower seeds that have been soaked for about 2 hours and strained

1 Tbsp Dulse granules

juice of half a lemon

1 clove of garlic, pressed

1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper or to taste

enough water to hold mix together
(about a couple tablespoons or to your liking)

Mock Tuna Salad- raw vegan

Place the seeds, dulse, garlic and lemon in the food processor and grind until crumbly or it no longer looks like seeds.

Add salt and pepper and start tasting.

Add in the water a tablespoon at a time until it holds together as you like it.

Diced celery and green onions

For the Salad:

Dice up:

2 stalks of celery

2 green onions

Mix in the pate until well combined.

Season with more salt and pepper if needed

For Serving:


I chose 2 big beefsteak tomatoes as they are in season.

I cut off the tops and scooped out the centers to make a nice sturdy cup (setting aside the insides to use in a dressing)

I then filled the centers with the "tuna" salad.

I whipped up a little green salad to accompany it.

Lunch is served! 

Save the Tuna- raw mock tuna salad

It really does look like tuna salad, doesn't it?

Note: This was a ton of food and very filling. One tomato this size definitely serves two!

This pate, for lack of another name is often called mock tuna, but could be mock chicken salad too if you omit the dulse flakes that give it that slight sea taste and add whatever ingredients remind you of chicken salad. Perhaps, chopped apples and walnuts? Almonds or walnuts can be substituted for all or some of the sunflower seeds too.

Refrigerated it should keep about 5 days. Like most salads like this, it tastes better the longer it has time to mix flavors.

It's quite versatile, tasty and very filling.

Breakfast of Champions- To Go!

I've been speaking to a friend of mine that wants to eat better but needs an easy routine for grab and go food  with his busy work schedule.  Plus he's been told to up his Omega 3s to help with eye fatigue. Crunch time is leaving for work in the morning having something ready to go and also having food that will keep him from running out for lunch or snacks when his energy starts to wane during the work day.

Energy, great for Omega 3's, quick and can be prepared a head of time. R loves his chia cereal so much that this was easy! It's the packaging that makes this even better.

Here's what I'm thinking....

A week's worth of glass pint canning jars, a little prep time on Sunday and we got grab-and-go all taken care of!

In each canning jar place one of the following mixtures:

Apple Pie:

2.5 Tbsp Chia Seeds, whole
2 Tbsp dehydrated Apples, diced
2 Tbsp Raisins
2 Tbsp Walnuts, chopped
Sprinkle of Cinnamon
1/2-1 packet Stevia

Southern Pecan Pie


2.5 Tbsp Chia Seeds, whole
2 Tbsp Pecans, chopped
2 Tbsp Cranberries
2 Tbsp shredded Coconut
1/2 -1 packet of Stevia

Southern  Pecan Pie Style Chia Pudding

Banana Bread


2.5 Tbsp Chia Seeds, whole
2 Tbsp Walnuts, chopped
2 Tbsp Pumpkin Seeds, chopped,
2 Tbsp dehydrated Banana chips
Sprinkle of Nutmeg
1/2-1 packet of Stevia

Chocolate Pudding


2.5 Tbsp Chia Seeds, whole
1 Tbsp (heaping) Cacao Powder, or Carob or if you have to Coco
1 packet Stevia
pinch of Salt (optional)
dash of Cinnamon

Chocolate Chia Pudding

Almond Milk To Go

The combos are endless so get creative!


All you do when ready is add 6 -8 oz of Almond milk to the jar,
screw the cover on, turn upside down and shake until well mixed.
Then let sit however long you want.

It transports easily like this until you're ready to eat and then just shake it up again. Pour it into a bowl or eat right out of the jar- your choice!

How long you let it sit is a personal choice. Some say at least 10 minutes for it to thicken, some like to let it sit over night or at least an hour or so. The beauty of it is that you can add milk to make it for breakfast the night before, or add the milk before you leave in the morning to make it for a lunch or afternoon snack at work. Or take some milk to work and mix it all up about 10 mins before you want to eat it. It doesn't matter.  It won't go bad and it's all good!

Chia Cereal in the Jar Minus Toppings

Here are some options you can try as well: 

• Chop a banana or apple to put on top when ready to eat.
• Peaches are good too... as are berries, oh heck you get the idea- add some fresh fruit!
• Instead of the Stevia powder mixed dry in the jar, you can use the Stevia drops, like the Sweet Vanilla Creme when ready to eat. You'll want to keep a bottle at the office too!
• If you're at home skip the Stevia powder and add a Tbsp each of Vanilla extract and Agave or Maple Syrup when ready to eat instead or the stevia drops!!!

And since I mentioned the Stevia Liquid drops, do you know they also come in flavors like Lemon Drop, English Toffee, Chocolate Raspberry, Peppermint etc. etc. Oh MY!

Ps: if you are fortunate to have Trader Joe's around, they have a great selection of dried fruits and nuts- not sure about the Stevia and no Chia- yet. C'mon Trader Joe's!

And another thing: the jars of the pre mix will keep as long as you keep a tight lid on it. So line them up on the kitchen counter, keep them in the pantry ready to go, or keep them at your desk in the office. You've got an instant meal or snack, all ready whenever you are.

Chia mix in snack bag 

As an option you can put the mixtures in little snack bags too. Just pour them in a jar when you are ready to mix with milk.

Just don't forget your spoon and the milk.
*You can even add apple juice instead of the milk or some even like just water mixed in.


Have never heard of Chia other than the pets? The check out this article. 
You really want to know about chia!


So tell us.... What combos are you eating with chia these days?

Kickin' It Up A Notch

Fiesta Chopped Salad with Lime & Honey Dressing

Since I have been reading Eat to Live

by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, 

I  have learned the importance for a volume of mixed vegetables, (2 lbs a day he says to be the goal) getting in a variety of colors, and the many health benefits of beans. So I was thinking of ways to incorporate a greater mix of colorful veggies and beans and came up with this spicy little number. 

I just loved chopped salads and the way you get a mix of flavors in every bite. I even branched out and added some veggies that alone are not my favs but are so worth the vitamins and minerals and guess what? Mixed in they are subtle enough to just add to the overall flavor without being noticeable.

I mixed this all up last night and Mr. "I don't like salads much" devoured 2/3 of the huge bowl! Since Dr. Fuhrman says vegetables and beans can be eaten in unlimited quantities, it's all good.

The Tossed Fiesta Chopped Salad

The Recipe:

The Salad Ingredients:

black beans, corn salsa, jicama, romaine, red pepper, radish, tomatoes, carrots, green onions, avocado

1 head of romaine lettuce, washed and chopped

1 can 15.5 oz organic low salt black beans, rinsed and well drained

1 1/2 cup chopped jicama (I actually had picked up some jicama sticks from the the store and chopped)

1/2 red bell pepper, diced

4 radishes, grated

3 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped

2 carrots, grated

1/4 cup green onions, diced

1/2 avocado, diced

2 cups raw or blanched corn or corn salsa (secret ingredient -see below)

Put Greens in bottom of large bowl. Layer remaining ingredients except avocado in decorative piles around top if you like.

When ready to serve, toss with dressing and plate with avocado added to the top.

Fiesta Salad Plated With Avocado

Lime & Honey Dressing

EVOO, honey, cilantro, lime, jalapeño, garlic

2 tbsp honey

3 limes, juiced

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

3 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped

1 large clove garlic, peeled and minced

1 tsp chopped and seeded jalapeño pepper or more to taste

Mix together

A word about the corn salsa:

Trader Joes' Corn and Chili Tomato Less Salsa

I found this on my last trip to Trader Joe's and thought it worth a try. It's not raw but it is really delicious! I barely could keep R from eating it all up while I prepared the salad. I can see just adding black beans or even mango and beans to it and eating it as a salad by itself.

Fiesta Salad With Added Brown Rice

If you are wanting a little more hearty of a meal, or want to stretch your leftovers, you could add some brown rice to it as well. Although, this salad is really filling on it's own.

Olé