Furikake Kewpie Tuna Macaroni Salad

The recipe for my furikake tuna macaroni salad is so easy, it probably doesn’t need its own blog post. But I got a surprising amount of messages about it when I posted it to my instagram stories, so here we are! This tuna macaroni salad really isn’t that different from the one you’ve probably had growing up (assuming you grew up in an American suburb like mine), with two exceptions: Japanese mayonnaise and furikake.

What is Japanese Mayonnaise?

Japanese mayonnaise is a staple condiment in my kitchen. Kewpie is the most famous brand. From what I’ve read, what makes it different from American mayonnaise is that it uses egg yolks instead of whites, rice vinegar instead of white, and has some additional spices added. It’s tangier and creamier and, in my opinion, BETTER. Just swapping out regular mayo for Japanese mayo automatically makes tuna mac salad so much more flavorful.

Furikake For Everyone

As for the furikake, you can use whatever type you like best. I accidentally bought wasabi furikake instead of my usual nori furikake, but it ended up being so good! For those of you new to furikake, it’s essentially a seasoning blend you can sprinkle on anything. It typically consists of seaweed, sesame seeds, and/or a variety of other spices, depending on what flavor you buy (dried fish, shiso leaves, wasabi, etc.). Think of it like Everything But the Bagel Seasoning, except Asian. I skip the salt for this mac salad and just sprinkle furikake until it’s salty and crunchy enough. Don’t forget to check out my food glossary if you’d like to read more about other common Asian food ingredients I use in my recipes.

And that’s all that you really need to know for this recipe! Make it for your next potluck, or for an easy cold lunch. And if it’s your first time trying Japanese mayo or furikake, let me know what you think!