Sandwich fillings: tuna, chicken, and egg salad

Sometimes you just get tired of the slice of ham, slice of cheese, mayo and lettuce on soft white bread, ya know? When I get tired of the same old, same old, I like the “salad” fillings for a change. Check the serving suggestions at the end, give ‘em a try and see what you think!

Tuna Salad
Ingredients:
2 cans light meat tuna packed in water, drained
½ onion (or small bunch of scallions) minced finely
1 hard boiled egg, chopped fine
1 tsp sweet pickle relish (optional)
French’s prepared mustard
Miracle Whip or other salad crème (not mayo!)
Sprinkle of ground black pepper

Preparation:
In a mixing bowl, flake drained tuna with a fork. Add egg, onion, pickle relish and toss well. Add just enough Miracle Whip to achieve a dry but spreadable consistency. Add mustard, half a teaspoon at a time, until the taste of the Miracle Whip is no longer dominant and identifiable. Sprinkle with pepper. Tastes best if allowed to rest in refrigerator for at least an hour.

Chicken Salad
Prepare Tuna Salad recipe with the following changes:
1 cup finely minced, cooked chicken breast meat in place of tuna
Omit pickle relish
Add 1 tsp fresh minced herb of your choice (I use marjoram)
Salt to taste

Egg Salad
Ingredients
6 extra large eggs, hard boiled, shelled and chilled
¼ onion (or 3 scallions) minced finely (optional)
1 tsp fresh dill or your choice of fresh herb, chopped coarsely (optional)
French’s prepared mustard
Miracle Whip or other salad crème (not mayo!)
Sprinkle of ground black pepper
Salt to taste

Preparation:
In a mixing bowl, mash egg against side of bowl with fork until egg is thoroughly broken up. Add onion and herb s and toss well. Add just enough Miracle Whip to achieve a dry but spreadable consistency. Add mustard, half a teaspoon at a time, until the taste of the Miracle Whip is no longer dominant and identifiable. Sprinkle with pepper. Tastes best if allowed to rest in refrigerator for at least an hour.

Serving:
It isn’t just the filling that makes a good sandwich, it is the bread and the additions. Try some of these:

Serve on toasted bread or bagels or rye
Serve on a stout artisan bread
A soft sourdough is fabulous with any of these
Stuff a pita with the tuna and add some well-drained Salsa Fresca
A slice of provolone cheese is wonderful with the tuna
Melt some cheese over the top of the filling before putting on the top slice
Add some feta to the tuna or chicken
Stuff a hollowed-out tomato with the tuna or chicken and reduce the calories!
Serve with a slice of tomato and a leaf of crisp lettuce on top
Crumble crisp bacon over the egg salad
Or add some sliced black olives to the egg salad
Sliced avocados on the chicken salad is fab!
A piece of roasted green chili on the chicken salad is also great
Make a wrap with the tuna or chicken salad and take to work for lunch
Spread on crackers, add a tiny herb garnish and you have instant canapés!
Use them as fillings for finger sandwiches for tea

Comment me with your favourite ways of serving!


Photo by jslander flickr