My version of the Tunacado Sandwich, the viral sandwich that has taken social media by storm. This internet hit is made by putting whipped tuna mousse, spicy pesto, and thinly sliced avocado between two perfectly sliced pieces of crispy bread. Even if you don’t live near a Joe
Have you heard of a Tunacado Sandwich? I first learned about it in a YouTube video that went viral a year ago and showed how to make one. I was interested, so I looked it up and found that the Tunacado is a popular sandwich at Joe (Sadly, not in Colorado. ).
The sandwich, as you might expect, is basically a tuna salad and avocado sandwich. However, a few standout ingredients and preparation methods give it a unique twist. Not letting the lack of a Joe stop them My tunacado sandwich recipe is a little different from the original because I use sourdough bread, a basil pesto that is a little hotter, and some extra flavors in the tuna mousse. I think the end result is pretty great, and it’s a great alternative if you can’t get the real thing. I was in love at first bite. [feast_advanced_jump_to].
The Joe & The Juice spicy tuna sandwich also known as the “Tunacado” has taken TikTok and Instagram by storm lately. This innovative sandwich features a whipped tuna salad flavored with lemon and garlic, spicy pesto mayo, avocado, tomato, and banana peppers – all stacked between two slices of perfectly toasted bread. With its luxurious textures and bold, exciting flavors, it’s easy to see why this sandwich has gone viral online.
In this article, I’ll walk you through how to recreate the Joe & The Juice spicy tuna sandwich at home. With just a little bit of prep, you can whip up this sandwich for lunch or dinner any night of the week. Trust me when I say this sandwich is worth the hype. The contrast of the fluffy tuna and the crisp toast is out of this world. Let’s get started!
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make this sandwich at home you’ll need to gather these ingredients
- Canned tuna, drained
- Mayonnaise
- Dijon mustard
- Lemon juice and zest
- Garlic
- Capers
- Anchovy paste or filets
- Dill
- Red onion
- Salt and pepper
- Bread – I recommend a crusty sourdough or whole wheat flatbread
- Pesto
- Chili oil or chili crunch
- Honey
- Avocado
- Tomato
- Banana peppers
That’s quite a list, but all of these items can easily be found at your local grocery store. The chili oil, chili crunch, and anchovies might be in the international aisle if you can’t locate them otherwise.
Make the Spicy Pesto Mayo
Let’s start by making the spicy pesto mayo that forms the sauce base for this sandwich.
In a small bowl, combine:
- 1⁄4 cup pesto
- 1⁄4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp chili oil or chili crunch
- 1 tsp honey
- 1⁄2 Tbsp lemon juice
Whisk these ingredients together until fully blended. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Set this spicy pesto mayo aside until assembly time.
Make the Whipped Tuna Salad
Next up is the creamy, dreamy tuna salad that makes this sandwich ultra luxurious. You’ll want to make sure your tuna mixture is whipped to a smooth, mousse-like consistency, which is achieved by processing it in a food processor.
Add the following ingredients to a food processor:
- 5 oz drained canned tuna
- 3 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 1⁄2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp lemon zest
- 1 1⁄2 tsp lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 Tbsp capers
- 2 tsp anchovy paste
- 1 Tbsp dried dill (or a couple sprigs of fresh dill)
Pulse to combine, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. You want the texture to become smooth, light, and fluffy.
Transfer the whipped tuna to a bowl and fold in 1⁄4 cup diced red onion. Season with 1⁄4 tsp each salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
Toast the Bread
While the tuna and pesto mayo chill in the fridge, toast your bread. I recommend using a crusty sourdough or whole wheat bread cut into thin slices.
Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the bread slices in a single layer and toast until golden brown and crisp, about 2-3 minutes per side. Use a spatula to press down on the bread gently as it toasts.
Set aside the crisp slices of toast while you assemble the sandwiches.
Assemble the Sandwiches
You’ve made it to the best and most rewarding part – time to assemble these spicy tuna masterpieces!
Grab your toasted bread and spread a layer of the spicy pesto mayo on one side of each slice.
Scoop the whipped tuna salad onto two of the bread slices. Smooth it into an even layer, leaving just a small border.
Top the tuna with two slices of tomato on each sandwich.
Next, layer on fresh avocado slices. I recommend at least half an avocado per sandwich – after all, this is a Tunacado!
If you want an extra punch of flavor, go for the pickled banana peppers too.
Finally, top it all with the second slice of toasted bread, pesto side down.
Use a serrated knife to trim off the crusts if desired, then slice each sandwich in half on the diagonal.
Tips for the Best Spicy Tuna Sandwiches
Here are a few tips and tricks as you recreate the Joe & The Juice Tunacado sandwich at home:
- Make the tuna mixture is as smooth and spreadable as possible. Add more mayo and process longer if needed.
- Slice your bread very thin – this maximizes that crispy toast-to-creamy tuna contrast.
- Take your time toasting the bread. You want it super crispy and browned. Weigh it down in the skillet if needed.
- The pesto mayo and tuna can be made 3 days in advance for easy assembly later on.
- Wait to add the red onions to the tuna until just before serving, as they can overpower the other flavors.
- Adjust the pesto mayo to taste. Add more chili oil if you like things extra spicy!
- Have fun with mix-ins like sprouts, cucumbers, or shredded carrots too.
Enjoy Your Gourmet Spicy Tuna Sandwich
Now you’re ready to sit down and tuck into this incredible spicy tuna creation. With its clever blend of flavors and luxe textures, this sandwich is sure to satisfy. The whipped tuna provides a lovely base for the pesto’s heat and fruitiness, while the crunch of the veggies balances out the rich creaminess.
Making the Joe & The Juice Tunacado at home is easier than you’d think. The hands-on time is under 30 minutes, and the end result is a showstopping sandwich you’ll be proud to serve. So next time you get a craving for this viral sensation, don’t hesitate to recreate it yourself with this step-by-step guide. Just get ready for this spicy tuna sandwich to become your new favorite meal!
How to Make a Tunacado Sandwich
As mentioned above, no worries if you dont live near a Joe & The Juice location. This spicy tuna sandwich is easy to make at home in just a few simple steps.
- Start by making the tuna mousse. To begin, make your drained tuna into a smooth, creamy mixture that would be at home in the best coffee shops. You can use a food processor or a high-speed blender to mix the tuna with Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, capers, lemon juice, and dill. It will taste better if you put it in the fridge while you make the rest of the sandwich.
- Make the spicy pesto sauce. This pesto mix is a little different from the one used in the Joe and The Juice tuna salad sandwich. It’s one of my favorite things about this beautiful sandwich. Crushed red pepper, Sriracha, and a little honey should be mixed into your ready-made pesto. This sandwich is different because it has a spicy tuna twist to the pesto.
- Toast the bread. Toast slices of sourdough to crispy perfection. You want the bread to be a rich golden brown color with a strong crunch that will hold up to the big fillings. You can use a panini press or a skillet to do this.
- Assemble the tuna avocado sandwiches. On one half of the bread, spread pesto. On the other half, stack scoops of tuna mousse, thin slices of avocado, tomato slices, red onion slices, and sprouts. The last step, putting the two halves together to finish your masterpiece, is the most satisfying. (And of course that first delicious bite!).
Love this tuna salad sandwich, but there are many ways you can make it your own. Give one of these variations a try:
- Bread choices. Not a fan of sourdough? A crispy flatbread might be a good alternative. It might taste like Joe’s classic bread, which is made from wheat and Nordic grain rye and has a nutty flavor from sunflower and flax seeds.
- Vegan options. Use vegan mayo and vegan pesto to make a vegan tunacado sandwich instead of the tuna. The salad should be made with chickpeas.
- Add more greens. Adding fresh parsley, basil, or spring onions can change the taste of food in many ways.
- Change up the tuna. You can change the taste of this sandwich by adding sardines or other tinned fish.
- Make it even spicier. To give the sandwich a little more kick, add a few drops of hot sauce to the tuna mousse.
A high-speed blender can work (I just used my Vitamix) for that smooth consistency. Or you can mix by hand for a chunkier texture (and a more traditional style tuna salad. The key is to integrate the flavors thoroughly.
Stored in an airtight container, the tuna mousse can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Perfect for meal prep!.
Of course! Homemade pesto is great, but store-bought pesto is a great time-saver. Just add the additional spices to tailor it to this recipes needs.
I wouldn’t put the sandwich together until it was time to serve it because it would get too soggy, but you can make the pesto sauce and the tuna mixture ahead of time. Then, just assemble everything when youre ready.
Its no wonder this tunacado sandwich has become such a viral recipe. Please let me know what you think of this version in the comments below, and don’t forget to tag me @frontrangefed on Instagram so I can see your work!
Why This Recipe Works
This is my new favorite lunch item. Heres why:
- Delicious. First and foremost, this sandwich has some serious game. Instead of the usual tuna salad that you find on most tuna sandwiches, this one is mixed into a mousse-like texture and has a lot of different flavors in it. Along with the creamy tuna, a spicy pesto sauce gives it just the right amount of kick. This sandwich has two spreads added to lightly grilled sourdough, then tomato, onion, and sprouts sliced and put on top. The crunchy veggies make it impossible not to eat.
- Healthy. The tuna rolls are full of protein and healthy fats, so they not only taste great but also keep me full all afternoon. These fats are good for your heart and brain, and avocado is full of fiber, healthy fats, and magnesium. This is a very healthy meal because the tomato, onion, and sprouts are full of antioxidants.
- Easy. It’s not hard to make this sandwich, and you can change it up to fit what you have on hand. Don’t worry if you don’t have a Joe.
- Caned tuna. The main attraction! Make sure the tuna you buy is packed in water, not oil, and get the best quality you can.
- Avocado. Avocados, which are creamy, give the Tunacado its unique texture and load it up with healthy fats.
- Pesto. Pesto can be made from scratch, or it can be bought in a jar. To make this dish, I mixed a jarred pesto with sriracha, honey, and crushed red pepper to give it a sweet and spicy kick. It turned out really well!
- Sourdough bread. You can use any kind of bread here, but the signature tunacado bread is usually cut very thinly and toasted just right to get that nice crunch. Strong bread is important for this sandwich because it helps keep it together (it can get messy!)
- Lemon juice & dill. These add depth and brightness, making the tuna mix anything but ordinary.
How to Make the TikTok Tunacado Sandwich Recipe at Home – Spicy Tunacado Recipe – Chef Tips
FAQ
What kind of bread is used in Joe and the juice?
Why are Joe and the Juice sandwiches so good?
Is spicy tuna sandwich healthy?
What is a copycat Joe & the juice tunacado sandwich?
This copycat Joe & The Juice viral tunacado sandwich is made with crispy flatbread, tuna mousse, basil pesto, fresh avocado, and juicy tomato.
Can eating a tuna fish sandwich lower your blood pressure if you take blood pressure medication?
Tuna fish when eaten with whole wheat bread can have a great health benefits. Tuna fish have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which may help to reduce the level of omega-6 fatty acids and low density Lipoproteins cholesterol. Low density Lipoproteins cholesterol are one of the leading cause of high blood pressure, so eating food that will lower this type of cholesterol can help to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
Does Joe & the juice make tuna Mousse?
NOTE: Joe & the Juice actually turns their tuna into a fluffy and creamy mousse by putting it into a food processor. Feel free to do this if you’d like but just add the onions, jalapeños, and cilantro after blending it. I prefer a bit more texture so I just used a pestle to mash it so it’s almost like a mousse but not quite yet.
How long does it take to make a Joe & the juice sandwich?
The viral Joe and The Juice sandwich is actually incredible easy to re-create at home. At least my version is! It doesn’t require any specialty ingredients, fancy equipment, or lots of your time. You’ll need just about 20 minutes and common condiments … like mayo and dijon mustard! Looking for more popular restaurant recipes to make at home?