What Fruit Goes Well with Tuna? A Delicious and Nutritious Pairing

Tuna salad is a classic staple that’s easy to make and enjoy. But you can take your tuna to new heights by pairing it with fresh, flavorful fruit The sweetness and acidity of fruit complements and balances the rich, savory taste of tuna Fruit also adds vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to boost the nutritional value of your tuna dish.

In this article, we’ll explore the best fruits that pair deliciously with tuna From tropical fruits, berries, citrus and more, we’ve got you covered for amazing fruit and tuna combinations Read on to discover new flavor combos and easy recipes to try at home.

Why Add Fruit to Your Tuna Dishes?

There are many great reasons to add fruit to your tuna salads, sandwiches, bowls and more:

• Flavor – Fruit brings sweetness and acidity to balance the rich umami taste of tuna. It adds complexity brightness and juiciness.

• Nutrition – Fruits like berries, citrus, pineapple and mango deliver a big nutritional boost. They provide essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.

• Variety – Fruit gives you an easy way to switch up your usual tuna dishes. It brings new flavors, colors, textures and excitement.

• Natural sweetness – The natural sugars in fruit add sweetness without extra calories or processed ingredients. Fruit allows you to cut back on mayo or other high-fat, high-calorie additions.

• Meal balancing – The sweetness of fruit balances the hearty, savory taste of tuna for a more complete meal.

So don’t be afraid to venture beyond the standard tuna salad with mayo and celery. Keep reading for delicious fruit and tuna pairings to try!

Sweet and Tangy: Pineapple and Tuna

Pineapple is one of the most popular fruits to pair with tuna. Its sweet and tangy flavor brightens up tuna salads, sandwiches, bowls and more. The juicy pineapple also adds moisture to drier tuna dishes.

Some tasty ways to use pineapple with tuna include:

• Pineapple tuna salad – Dice pineapple and mix into tuna salad in place of some of the mayo or celery. The fruit cuts the richness.

• Pineapple tuna tacos – Top tuna tacos with fresh pineapple salsa or pico de gallo. The sweet and spicy flavors complement the tuna perfectly.

• Grilled pineapple and tuna skewers – Alternate chunks of tuna and pineapple on skewers for a fun appetizer or meal. The grilled fruit caramelizes beautifully.

• Pineapple tuna bowls – Build a bowl with tuna, pineapple, greens, avocado, edamame, carrots and a tangy dressing. It’s a nutritious lunch or dinner.

• Pineapple teriyaki tuna – Make a quick skillet meal with tuna, pineapple, bell pepper, teriyaki sauce, sesame seeds and sriracha. Serve over rice.

Citrusy Delight: Orange and Tuna Salad

Orange juice and zest add a bright, refreshing citrus note to tuna salads. The sweet tartness balances the rich fish. Try this Orange Tuna Salad:

• Flake tuna into a bowl and toss with fresh orange juice and zest.

• Add diced jalapeno or red onion for crunch.

• Mix in chopped cilantro for fresh herb flavor.

• Serve the orange tuna salad over greens or stuff into a pita or avocado half.

You can also use other citrus like grapefruit, lemon or lime. The possibilities are endless for citrusy tuna dishes!

Tropical Twist: Mango and Tuna Bowls

Sweet, juicy mango makes the perfect partner for tuna in refreshing poke bowls. The tropical fruit adds moisture and balances the savory umami flavors.

Try this easy homemade Mango Tuna Poke Bowl:

• Marinate tuna cubes in soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and ginger.

• Mix with diced mango, avocado, edamame, carrot, cucumber, radish, cabbage and green onions.

• Top bowls of greens or rice with the tuna poke mixture.

• Drizzle with a tangy mango salsa or mango ginger dressing.

The sweet mango and savory tuna combo is so fresh and appetizing in this Hawaiian-inspired bowl!

Sweet and Spicy: Peaches and Tuna

If you want to surprise your tastebuds, try pairing fresh peaches with tuna. The sweet juiciness complements the savory meatiness of tuna for an unexpected flavor fusion.

Ideas for peaches and tuna:

• Peach tuna salad – Dice peaches into tuna salad in place of celery for sweet crunch. Add a dash of chipotle or hot sauce for a spicy kick.

• Grilled peach and tuna skewers – Alternate slices of peach and tuna on skewers. Brush with a spicy honey glaze before grilling.

• Seared tuna with peach salsa – Top seared tuna steaks with a fresh peach salsa. Use red onion, jalapeno, cilantro and lime juice.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with the classic peach and tuna combo!

Crunchy and Fresh: Apple and Tuna Salad

Apples are a great choice to add fruity crunch to tuna salads. They balance the rich fish and add fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants.

For Apple Tuna Salad:

• Dice apples finely and add to flaked tuna along with yogurt, lemon juice and celery.

• Mix in crunchy almonds and dried cranberries for texture.

• Serve the apple tuna salad over greens or stuff into a whole wheat pita pocket or wrap.

The sweet apples, tangy yogurt, savory tuna and crunchy nuts play perfectly together in this healthy salad. It’s ideal for meal prepping since it lasts all week.

Berry Delicious: Strawberries and Tuna

Strawberries lend their bright, sweet-tart flavor to tuna salads and sandwiches for the perfect spring or summer lunch. The juicy berries add moisture and cut the richness.

Try these tasty strawberry tuna combos:

• Strawberry tuna salad – Dice strawberries and mix into tuna salad along with sliced almonds and red onion.

• Strawberry balsamic tuna steak – Brush tuna steaks with an easy strawberry balsamic glaze before searing.

• Tuna melt with strawberries – Top tuna melts with sliced strawberries and melted cheddar or mozzarella. Use on English muffins or bagels.

• Strawberry tuna poke – Make Hawaiian poke bowls with tuna, strawberries, mango, avocado, cabbage, green onion, sesame and brown rice.

Tangy and Sweet: Blackberries and Tuna

The sweet-tart blackberry is delicious with tuna’s savory flavor. The rich purple fruit adds great nutrients like vitamins C and K, fiber and plant compounds.

Try these fun blackberry tuna combinations:

• Blackberry Dijon tuna – Mix blackberry preserves into a Dijon mustard sauce for tuna steaks or sandwiches.

• Blackberry balsamic tuna salad – Whisk blackberry balsamic vinegar into tuna salad instead of mayo for a tangy twist.

• Seared tuna and blackberry salsa – Top seared rare tuna with a fresh blackberry salsa. Add jalapeno, red onion and cilantro.

• Blackberry spinach tuna salad – Toss tuna salad with blackberries, spinach, feta and red onion. Drizzle with a mustard vinaigrette.

Berry Bright: Raspberries and Tuna

The raspberry’s sweet-tart juiciness and pretty color make it another excellent match for tuna’s rich savoriness. The antioxidant-packed berries add nutrition and refreshment.

Some raspberry-infused tuna ideas include:

• Raspberry chipotle tuna – Mix raspberry jam and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce into tuna salad. Spread on sandwiches or wraps.

• Tuna salad stuffed raspberries – Stuff raspberries with creamy tuna salad for a fun appetizer or side.

• Seared tuna with raspberry sauce – Drizzle pan-seared tuna steaks with an easy raspberry coulis sauce.

• Raspberry balsamic tuna kebabs – Brush tuna and pineapple chunks with raspberry balsamic glaze before skewering and grilling.

Don’t be afraid to use frozen raspberries too – they work great!

Sweet Tartness: Dried Cranberries and Tuna

Dried cranberries infuse tuna salads with tangy sweetness and chewy texture. They provide fiber, vitamin C and disease