Tuna Egg Salad (4 servings)
At only ~R24 per serving, this recipe is an absolute bargain for a high-protein lunch. Because it requires zero stovetop cooking (aside from boiling the eggs), it is also entirely loadshedding-friendly.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Lunch, Salad
Cuisine South African
Servings 4 portions
Calories 349 kcal
For the Salad Base:
- 2 large hardboiled eggs, fully cooled and peeled
- 2 tins shredded or solid chunk tuna in brine, 340g, well drained
- 4 tbsp celery, very finely diced
- 4 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp capers or gherkins, finely chopped
For the Mayo Dressing:
- ½ cup mayonnaise (60g), (or swap for 4 tbsp mayo + 4 tbsp low-fat plainGreek yogurt to lighten the digestive load)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice,
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
In a small mixing bowl, flake the drained tuna with a fork. Finely chop your hard boiled egg and add it to the bowl with the tuna.
Toss in the finely diced celery, fresh dill, chives, and your chopped capers or gherkins.
In a separate small ramekin, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard until smooth.
Pour the dressing over the tuna mixture. Gently fold everything together until well combined and evenly coated. Season with a tiny pinch of salt and a generous grind of black pepper.
Enjoy immediately as a low-carb salad bowl, or scoop it into fresh lettuce wraps or onto two slices of Earth Origin High Protein Grain Bread or your homemade high-protein cottage cheese bread!
Macros Per Serving (Divides into 4):
- 🔥Calories: ~349 kcal
- 🍗 Protein: ~28.5g (Excellent, lean source of amino acids)
- 🌾 Carbohydrates: ~2g
- 🥑 Fat: ~25.5g
- 🪙 Estimated Cost: ~R24**
Note: The majority of the fat and calories come from the ½ cup of standard mayonnaise. If you are looking to lower the calories and fat while boosting the protein even further, you can swap half the mayonnaise (¼ cup) for fat-free or low-fat plain Greek yogurt.
** Estimated cost is based on average shelf prices at major South African supermarkets as of September 2026 and is reviewed bi-annually.
Keyword High protein, Lunch, Under R30