Matthew McConaughey's tuna salad recipe sounds pretty out there, but make it once, and you'll say, "alright, alright, alright," with every bite.
This Is What You Should Put in Tuna Salad, According to Matthew McConaughey
Published on Nov. 29, 2024
Until now, Matthew McConaughey has been best known for his films, like Dallas Buyers Club, Failure to Launch, Interstellar and Dazed and Confused. However, after appearing recently on the 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast, he is now also known for a tuna salad recipe that went viral on TikTok. Heads up: It’s not your grandma’s tuna salad recipe.
McConaughey says his recipe is “a long list of all kinds of things” and that it’s so good, he’s a”tuna fish salad master maker.”
“It starts with the base,” he said on the podcast. “You get your good tuna. Next, you want to watch how much lemon and vinegar you add.” He later explains that this is because whatever you put on the tuna first is the main flavor the tuna soaks up. Then he adds mayo mixed with wasabi before adding the rest of the ingredients: chopped red onions, dill pickle gherkins, crispy jalapeno chips, corn, frozen peas, diced apples and a touch of agave for sweetness.
I know; he lost me at corn and agave, too. You have to wonder if this recipe is what McConaughey used to kill Kate Hudson’s love fern in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. How could this possibly work? Well, naturally, we decided to put this recipe to the test.
Ingredients
- 10 ounces canned high-quality tuna packed in oil
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise, plus more as desired
- 2 teaspoons wasabi paste
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 dill pickle gherkins, finely diced
- 1/3 cup crispy jalapeno chips
- 1/4 cup chopped apple
- 1/2 tablespoon agave syrup
- 1/2 cup fresh corn kernels
- 1/4 cup frozen peas
Directions
Step 1: Make the dressing
In a small mixing bowl, combine the white wine vinegar, lemon juice, mayonnaise and wasabi paste.
Step 2: Mix with tuna
Next, combine the canned tuna and dressing in a medium bowl and stir until evenly mixed.
Step 3: Toss in everything but the kitchen sink
Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl, and stir to combine. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate to enjoy later. (McConaughey says it’s one of those recipes that are even better the next day since the flavors have time to marry.)
Here’s what we thought
Alright, alright, alright. What can we say? It works!
In fact, it doesn’t just work; it’s delicious. The tang from the lemon, pickles and vinegar is balanced by the apples and agave. The peas and corn add freshness and texture and the wasabi and jalapeno chips bring the heat. We made our tuna salad into a sandwich on toasted sourdough, but we would also love to enjoy this recipe with crackers for dipping or as a tuna melt on a toasted English muffin with melted cheddar or pepper jack cheese.
What’s his secret ingredient?
If we had to put our finger on what makes Matthew McConaughey’s tuna salad so delish, it would have to be the wasabi and crispy jalapeno chips. Both bring so much amazing flavor, texture and crunch to the recipe. Without them, his tuna salad would taste a lot like other recipes we’ve tried in the past, so don’t skip them.
The other secret to this recipe is to measure with your heart. We included measurements above, but this is one of those recipes where you just want to eyeball everything to suit your tastes. Add extra wasabi and jalapeno chips if you like heat, or add extra apple and agave for more sweetness. Love pickles? Double them! There are no rules for making tuna salad in Matthew McConaughey’s kitchen.
