Lunchtime meals are a lot more varied nowadays, with a huge variety of soups, salads, wraps, and pastas to choose from, but sometimes you just can’t beat having a sarnie.
And when it comes to classic fillings, few can top tuna mayonnaise. It may be a tasty jacket potato topping, but together tuna and mayonnaise also make a winning sandwich filling and have long been satisfying hungry stomachs on many a lunch break. You can mix things up by throwing in a wedge or two of cucumber or a layer of lettuce and tomato for a refreshing crunch, but if you really want to elevate the flavour of the dish, food experts recommend ditching mayonnaise for sour cream instead.
Sour cream is an ideal substitute for mayonnaise because it still gives you that deliciously creamy and smooth texture, but it adds a slightly sweet tang that enhances the overall flavour of the tuna without overpowering it – and it’s healthier too.
Food experts at Tasting Table said: “While the mayo’s custardy, egg tones are typically expected, you’ll find sour cream’s sweet, creamy medley to be just as (if not more) satisfying.
“Both mayonnaise and sour cream have a tangy flavour base, but sour cream has a milky richness that brings a refreshing element to tuna salad. The fish’s usual salty, savoury taste is less dull and instead, perfectly balanced by an equal amount of deep and bright flavours.
“Even better, with sour cream’s consistency, there’s also a textural shift that makes for a much better eating experience. Everything comes together beautifully on the taste buds — the fish’s tender yet chewy bites and the veggies’ slight crunchiness, all coated in the sour cream’s velvety thickness.”
Sour cream also has the added benefit of generally being lower in fat compared to mayonnaise, so it’s a slightly healthier option that still delivers a wonderfully rich and creamy taste.
To make your sandwich filling, Food.com recommends adding one tablespoon of sour cream (either regular or low-fat) to 5oz of tuna in a bowl and mashing this together.
For an extra burst of flavour, you can add in a pinch of salt and black pepper and one teaspoon of mustard, although the latter is entirely optional.
Once the ingredients are all combined you can add more sour cream (and mustard) depending on your preference. Then simply serve your tuna salad in a sandwich and garnish with some slices of cucumber, tomato and lettuce for a burst of freshness.