Matthew McConaughey is arguably best known for his roles in True Detective, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and The Wolf of Wall Street. But recently, he’s become most famous for his unconventional, souped-up tuna salad recipe. Once he shared his intriguing method, it didn’t take long for it to go viral on TikTok.
Wasabi, Pickles, Apples: Matthew McConaughey's Unusual Tuna Salad Recipe Is Taking Over TikTok (and I See Why)
Frozen peas? Alright, alright, alright
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Published Nov 22, 2024
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“I’ve been using wasabi pretty liberally lately, to mix up even with tuna fish salad; I’m a tuna fish salad master,” McConaughey proclaims in a recent episode of the podcast 2 Bears, 1 Cave, hosted by comedians Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer. “Every Sunday night, clean out the fridge…gonna make a bad-ass tuna fish that lasts through the week.”
When asked to explain how he makes it, he says it’s a long list. “It starts with the base: You get your good tuna. Next, you gotta watch how much lemon and vinegar you add, because you add the mayo mixed with wasabi; whip it up...whatever you put on the tuna first, it’s gonna soak it up.”
Once the base is complete, it’s time for the mix-ins. “Chopped red onions, I’ll finely dice dill gherkins, there’s a jalapeño product now that’s been seared in hot oil, so it’s crispy jalapeño chips…to balance it out at the end, I’ll go in with some apple for some sweetness, a touch of agave. And at the end, I always have corn in there…and frozen green peas.” He then notes that it’s better to cover it and let the flavors “coagulate” overnight in the fridge than to eat it immediately.
As a tuna salad connoisseur myself (try my Buffalo tuna melt and thank me later), this recipe tastes delicious in my head. It checks all four essential boxes—salt! fat! acid! heat!—and offers a chorus of crunchy, crispy, refreshing textures. I also always add pickled jalapeños to mine (I always have one jar of the sliced peppers and another of just the brine specifically for tuna salad), so I can’t wait to try the chips in their place…or in addition.
McConaughey also professed his boundless love for ketchup, which he’s put on everything from scrambled eggs to boiled okra. Of course, he says he has the tuna salad with ketchup-topped pickles for good measure. The man loves vinegar, folks.
