Rachael’s Tuna Salad Cucumber Boats

Rachael’s tuna salad cucumber boats combine an awesome combination of creamy and crunchy. This is a fresh and delicious way to enjoy tuna salad!

I wanted to make my daughter a special meal one evening, and that’s how Rachael’s tuna salad cucumber boats came to be! She recently started doing the AIP plan. This is also known as autoimmune protocol or autoimmune paleo diet. It’s an elimination diet which then slowly adds foods back. I knew I could make a fun and delicious dish that would also be keto! After I made it and she tried it, Rachael loved it so much so asked if I’d name it for her. Oh, be still this happy mother’s heart!💕

Let’s talk about Rachael’s tuna salad cucumber boats!

I used regular cucumbers, but you could also use English cucumbers to make your boats. When removing the seeds, you can use a melon baller to do the job; but I just used a spoon to scoop out the seeds and make room for the tuna salad. You can use any kind of tuna fish you’d like, but I recommend using tuna packed in water since we’re adding mayonnaise to our tuna salad. And, yes, my daughter is including eggs in her diet; so the keto avocado oil mayonnaise was perfect for this dish. We like creamy tuna salad, so I added ½ cup of mayo to mine. If you’d prefer, you can use less. I added diced celery and onion to give the salad a nice crunch. For seasoning, we simply add salt, pepper, and garlic powder. This recipe makes 8 nice sized tuna boats.

Is there anything I can do with the cucumber I’m removing from the center of the cucumbers?

Yes, and I’m so glad you asked.😉I hate to waste food and I’m always checking vegetables and such to make sure I use them before they go bad. I didn’t want to toss out the insides of the cucumber I’d scooped out, so I made a quick salsa with them. I simply chopped them up and tossed them in a medium bowl. Then I added 2 diced tomatoes, about 10 sliced black olives, and a couple tablespoons of both diced red onions and fresh chopped parsley. To this I added a tablespoon of olive oil, a teaspoon of red wine vinegar, a teaspoon of dried oregano, and a pinch or two of salt and pepper. Give it all a stir and you have a fresh and delicious salsa! For keto dippers, you can use raw vegetables, keto crackers, cheese whisps, pork rinds, or even cheese slices.

How can I serve Rachael’s tuna salad cucumber boats?

These cucumber boats can be served as a meal just by themselves. If you’d like, you could also serve them with a keto soup. You could also add a side of berries to these cucumber boats. Some good keto options include blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. You could also serve these with some keto crackers, biscuits, cornbread, or English muffins. These boats could be served with some sliced avocados or raw vegetables as well. Another great option for serving these cucumber boats is to cut them into smaller pieces and serve them as an appetizer. Whether as a main or as an appetizer, sprinkling some fresh chopped parsley over them makes for a very pretty presentation. You could also sprinkle them with some chopped chives or green onions if you’d prefer.

Here are a few keto soups that would pair nicely with these cucumber boats!

Creamy Keto Cauliflower and Smoked Gouda Soup

Keto French Onion Soup

Keto Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

Low Carb Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup

Helpful Hints:

*We like our tuna salad extra creamy so I added ½ cup of mayo, but you can use less if you’d prefer.

*If you’d like, you can cut these boats into smaller pieces and serve them as an appetizer.

Main Kitchen Equipment and Utensils:

• Medium mixing bowl
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons

Splash of Encouragement:

***Your family and friends will always feel special and loved when you make them special dishes***