One of the bigger challenges with this week’s recipe was to come up with the right tuna to use. It’s suggested that light vs. albacore tuna is the better choice, and of course, it’s supposed to be in oil. I ended up with a few choices:
I thought that it would be fun too, to get to use the French Four Spice that I’d recently tried. The recipe also calls for curry powder in addition to the tuna, shallot and crème fraîche. I ended up using the wild skipjack, despite the fact that I really only like albacore.
Everything is whirled together in a mini processor to make a nice paste. I did add a bit more of the crème fraîche to make it a little softer.
I served mine with some pita chips, cornichons and red bell pepper for a light dinner
It was ok. But that’s about as far as I can go with it. I still didn’t love that type of tuna. And it was still a little dry for me. I do love tuna salad, usually made with shredded carrots, celery and onion – sometimes with dill and capers, or even with sweet or bread and butter pickles. I like adding enough vegetables to almost make it half and half tuna and veggies, it adds such great crunch and flavor.
I probably won’t make this again. There are other things I like so much better, but it was fun to try the rillettes again – maybe with the salmon, it will be third time’s a charm!
dulceshome 
Sorry this one wasn’t a hit for you! I’m looking forward to doing the salmon rillettes and seeing how those go over.
Hope you will like the salmon version better then!
You can’t like them all, Candy. Good for you for trying. I really liked it, so I’d lobby for trying it one more time with albacore, which you like.
I’ve never seen Penzeys French Four Spice before. I thought I had every spice they made. Is it like quatres-epices? I will have to google. I also have never heard of wild skipjack. Although it seems as if most people do not, I always buy tuna in olive oil from Trader Joe’s. I’m a tuna fish salad fan myself and always throw in whatever is left in the fridge and pantry. Love to add cranraisins. Sorry this was not a winner in your kitchen. It looked good. On to salmon……
Yes, it’s the same spice blend. I really liked it before so I was looking forward to it again.
Oh well, it was an experiment! No harm done. I probably would have liked it more under different circumstances. It’s probably better as “party food”.
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I agree – it was hard to find just the right tuna. Sorry you didn’t love this one, but it does sound good served with pita chips.
I kid you not, I spent 15 minutes in front of the tuna selection in the store trying to figure out the correct one. When did tuna become so complicated?
Sorry this wasn’t a huge hit – but it looks delicious.
My market sells an Italian import called Geneva, that I really love…it was perfect for this dish. Sounds good served withPita chips. Sorry this wasn’t a winner for you, but there’s always next week!
It was worth a shot…I, too, prefer classic tuna salad !
Your tuna salad recipe sounds excellent! I’m with you, I like more texture in my tuna salad.