Chesapeake Tuna Salad Sandwich
May 24, 2018 by Nicole Collins
Here in Maryland, we like Old Bay on EVERYTHING!
And, I mean EVERYTHING.
It’s totally a thing! Besides the usual suspects like crabs and shrimp (duh); we put it on pizza, on french fries, on potato chips. We even put it on ice cream!
I used to work with a girl that used to carry a can of Old Bay with everywhere she went. She kept it in her car so that she could have Old Bay 24/7. I used to think it was the funniest thing! But, whenever I wanted to spruce up my lunch, she’d always be my first stop.
I still take for granted that Old Bay is not a common spice everywhere in the country. Most states sell it now, but what good is it if you don’t know what to do with it!
Thank goodness you have me!
I think I’ve told you before that Crab Chips are one of the things that the Florida girls love because they can’t get them there. So, every trip, in either direction, involves Crab Chips.
Crab Chips are pretty much just plain potato chips that are seasoned with Chesapeake bay seasoning (which is exactly what Old Bay is). I grew up with Utz Crab Chips. So, that’s my go to brand. Plus, Utz is a local brand, so I’ve got to show them some love!
Lays has recently released a Chesapeake crab spiced chip. And honestly, I was so curious to try them; but I was afraid I was cheating on Utz by eating them. So, while I was at the grocery store this past weekend, I finally decided to pick up a bag. But, I also found another local brand that was advertising their chips as Crabfries seasoned chips with creamy white sauce flavoring, so I grabbed a bag of them too.
That’s called curiosity killing the cat, right there.
Here’s the verdict. Lays flavoring…not for me! They have a more vinegary taste to them, and I don’t particularly like that. The Herrs brand was better, but I don’t think it tasted like crab fries. It just tasted like a heavily seasoned crab chip (that gave me awful indigestion). So, I’m sticking with Sally Utz and her Crab Chips!
I tell you this story, because crab chips are playing a role in today’s recipe. Today, we’re making Chesapeake Tuna Salad Sandwiches!
These sandwiches are so easy to assemble, but they’re a Maryland girl’s dream come true!
We start with a basic can of albacore tuna fish. Mix it with mayo, a little red onion, some celery, and the star…Old Bay! The tuna salad has a coastal, beachy taste to it thanks to the Old Bay. And, there’s minimal effort required to get tons of flavor in a simple and inexpensive product. Hard part…done!
Next, we assemble the sandwich. Take some green, leafy lettuce, a scoop of tuna salad, and a handful of crunchy Crab Chips; then throw it all on a soft, butter bun (you know, the same type of bun Chick Fil A serves their sammies on). Yup! I’m going to give you a minute to process that.
I’ve always been one for efficiency, so if we were going to serve our sammie with chips anyway; why not just throw them straight on the sandwich! The chips along with the crisp lettuce add a really nice crunch factor to contrast the soft squishy bun. And all of the chesapeake crab seasoning (because it’s not technically Old Bay brand that coats Utz Crab Chips), adds a salty, slightly spicy element to our MD style sandwich!
Easy recipes that taste amazing are certainly my favorite kind, and that’s exactly what I’ve given you today. I mean, you can’t go wrong with Old Bay.
So, grab Sally Utz’s fiancée, Natty Boh; make yourself a sammie; and let’s eat!
Chesapeake Tuna Salad Sandwich Serves: 4 Print
Ingredients:
2 cans solid white albacore tuna, drained
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1 stalk celery, diced
¼ cup red onion, finely diced
juice of ½ of a small lemon
2 tsp old bay
4 butter buns
about 25 crab potato chips
leaf lettuce
Directions:
Make the tuna salad: In a small bowl, mix tuna, mayo, celery, onion, lemon juice, and old bay until combined. Set aside.
Assemble the sandwiches: Place lettuce on the bottom half of each bun. Top with tuna salad and crab chips. Serve immediately.
Recipe notes:
*These sandwiches are best served fresh. If you're going to pack this sandwich for lunch, pack each element separately, and assemble when you're ready to eat.
*Use your favorite brand of crab chips. I prefer Utz.
*Butter buns are the same kinds of buns Chick fil a uses....mmmmmm! They're actually called butter buns, so look for that on the packaging of the rolls.
