Tuna paste is usually made from canned tuna.
Tuna paste is basically a creamy mix of canned fish with various flavors added. Recipes and possible toppings for this popular tuna sandwich or cookie spread can vary greatly based on personal taste. Typically, a tuna paste will have cream cheese or mayonnaise to bind the flakes or chunks of canned fish into a spreadable consistency.
Mayonnaise is used as a mandatory ingredient in some forms of tuna paste.
Larger chunks or flakes of canned tuna used in the spread should be broken up with the tines of a fork or spoon. After the mayonnaise or cream cheese is added and gradually stirred to achieve the desired texture, dressings, condiments, and sliced vegetables or fruits can be added. Some people prefer a very basic tuna paste with just a little pepper, while others like to combine many different ingredients into the mix.
Make an elegant paste by mixing yellow fin tuna, cream cheese and chives.
Chili sauce is a popular addition to add some oomph to the spread. Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice are other commonly added tuna spreads. While some people like a little relish or minced pickles in a tuna paste, others may prefer diced apples and/or thinly sliced celery. Chopped green onions or parsley can add color to the pasta, while adding chopped cucumber can be a more refreshing tuna pasta option. For an unexpected pop of color, grated carrots can be added to the pasta.
Tuna paste can be used as a sandwich filling, perhaps with a few lettuce leaves and tomato slices. A tuna and cheese sandwich can also be delicious. When the cheese is melted on top of the fish mixture spread on the bread, the result is a staple dish called “melt tuna”. In this way, the tuna paste can be enjoyed hot instead of the usual cold.
When tuna paste is placed on top of crackers, it can be a satisfying snack. Some people like to serve this snack along with some apple or pear slices. To make tuna pasta more appealing as a party appetizer, sprigs of fresh parsley can be added to crackers. Some cooks like to use cream cheese when making a tuna paste so that the consistency is thick enough to allow the result to form into a ball to serve with cocktail knives and crackers for guests to help themselves .