This Carrot and Tuna Salad combines pantry staples with a few fresh ingredients for a light, satisfying, and protein-packed dish! Serve this delicious recipe as a side dish, sandwich filling, bento side, or low-carb main course. {Vegan/Vegetarian Adaptable}
If you’re looking for a simple, pantry-friendly salad with minimal prep, this Carrot and Tuna Salad is the perfect choice. Packed with well-balanced, nutritious ingredients, it’s a win-win for a quick and healthy main dish or side salad!
Looking for more healthy salad recipes like this? Try my Japanese Potato Salad, Japanese Cucumber Saladand Japanese Spinach Salad with Sesame Dressing recipes!
Why I Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients. It requires only a handful of fresh ingredients and pantry staples.
- Super healthy! It’s rich in fiber, minerals, and nutrients—thanks to the carrots and heart-healthy tuna.
- Easy to customize. You can add, swap, or substitute just about every ingredient to save time or spare you a trip to the store.
- Can be a hearty meal, side dish, or snack. The addition of tuna makes the salad hearty enough to stand alone. You can enjoy the salad as is or serve it over toast, in onigirazu (rice sandwich), or on whole-grain crackers. Yum!
- Excellent for meal prep! Carrot salad is one of the most popular Japanese meal-prep dishes, known as jobisai (常備菜). Since it stores well in the refrigerator, you can make a large batch and enjoy it throughout the week.
Ingredients for Carrot and Tuna Salad
- Carrots
- Red onion or shallot
- Canned tuna
- Toasted black sesame seeds
- Dressing:
- Extra virgin olive oil
- rice vinegar
- I am willow
- Dijon mustard
- Lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How To Make Carrot and Tuna Salad
Preparation
Step 1 – Cut ingredients. Julienne the carrots, place them in a bowl, cover with a damp paper towel, and and microwave for a minute. Microwaving lightly softens them while still keeping some of their crunch. Next, thinly slice the red onion (or shallots) and soak in a bowl of cold water to remove the bitterness. Squeeze out the water and set aside.
Step 2 – Make the dressing. Whisk all the dressing ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Assemble
Step 3 – Toss to combine. Add the drained tuna to the bowl, break it into pieces, and coat with the dressing. Then, add the carrots, onions, and most of the black sesame seeds. Give everything another toss.
Step 4 – Refrigerate and serve. Let the salad marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving. When ready to serve, sprinkle with the rest of black sesame seeds for a nutty crunch and a pop of color. For optional garnishes, you can also add parsley sprigs and a lemon wedge.
Nami’s Recipe Tips
- Use a julienne peeler – To create julienned strips, first peel the carrot. I use my Y-shaped Japanese peeler from our online shop, JOC Goods. Then, slice the carrot into long, thin strips; I use my favorite Japanese julienne peeler, also from JOC Goods.
- Microwave to quickly tenderize the carrot – The brief cooking time helps maintain their bright color, natural sweetness, and crispness, offering a nice balance between raw and tender textures without making them mushy. I cover it with a damp paper towel and zap for 1 minute (1000W). Alternatively, you can sprinkle the carrot strips with a tiny bit of salt, let it sit for 3 minutes, and rinse under cold water so it wilts slightly.
- Versatile dressing – This bright, zippy vinaigrette beautifully complements the key components of the salad. It’s so versatile—I recommend making a big jar! You can use the dressing for other salads or roasted vegetables.
Variations and Customizations
- Try different vegetables. Try using cucumbers, zucchini, and daikon radish. These are relatively easier to julienne than carrots.
- Looking for an upgrade from canned tuna? I highly recommend this brand of jarred tuna. The large chunks are impressive, and the quality is noticeably superior.
- Vegan/vegetarian? Skip the tuna and add chickpeas! You can also add grilled tofu, edamame, avocado, or other vegetables.
How To Serve Carrot and Tuna Salad
- As a side dish – This salad goes well with any meal!
- In a sandwich – It’s fabulous as a sandwich filling! I add it to my Wanpaku Sandwich.
- As a snack – Put it on crackers as a topping and enjoy it as a snack.
- Packed in a bento lunch box – This salad adds a pop of bright color to your lunch box.
- As a main course – I enjoy this salad on its own when I want to go low-carb.
Storage Tips
To store: Store the salad in an airtight container. It will keep well for 3–4 days in the refrigerator.
To freeze: Place the salad in an airtight container or resealable freezer bag. Freeze for up to a month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Serve chilled.
More Salad Recipes
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To Prepare the Ingredients
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Peel 2 carrots with a vegetable peeler. Then, cut the carrots into thin, long strips with a julienne peeler. You can also julienne with your knife using the hosogiri cutting technique.
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Save any leftover pieces of carrot that you can’t peel to use in another dish later. Place the julienned carrots in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with a damp paper towel.
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Cook the carrots in the microwave for 1 minute (1000W) to lightly soften them. Remove the paper towel and let cool.
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Thinly slice ½ red onion. Soak the sliced onion in a bowl of cold water to remove the bitterness.
To Make the Dressing
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Meanwhile, make the dressing. To a large mixing bowl, add 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 2 Tbsp rice vinegar (unseasoned), 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp soy sauce, ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepperand ½ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
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Combine with a whisk. Cut the lemon in half (reserve the extra lemon for garnish). Squeeze 2 tsp lemon juice into the dressing and whisk again.
To Toss the Salad
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Drain 1 can albacore tuna (preferably packed in olive oil) and add the tuna to the bowl. Break it into small pieces and coat with the dressing.
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Then, add the cooled carrots and toss with the tuna.
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Squeeze the water from the onion slices and add them to the bowl.
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Add most of the ½ Tbsp toasted black sesame seeds to the bowl (reserving some for garnish) and give everything another toss.
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Cover the bowl and marinate the salad in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Transfer the Carrot and Tuna Salad to a serving plate.
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