For chicken salad I make a curried chicken salad that uses plain yogurt instead of mayo; it tastes really good. The thought of it on tuna, though... ick!
I like to use fat free Greek Yogurt and bit of dijon with various seasonings (i.e., celery seeds, salt, pepper, vinegar, Tabasco). I have to try newleaf's idea of putting curry powder.
I use Hellman's canola mayo (half the calories of regular mayos, but doesn't taste "light"). In chicken, tuna, and egg salads, I often dilute it with skim milk or low fat buttermilk. In fact, I usually start by measuring my mayo, skim(butter)milk, and seasonings (ranch dressing mix powder that I buy in bulk is one of my favorites) into the bowl. Usually a bit of brown or dijon mustard also goes in, and some grated or finely chopped onion and celery and chopped pickle or pickle relish. Only then do I add in the main ingredient (slowly, until it's the consistency I like). If I add the mayo after the protein, I tend to add to much.
Although I usually stay away from ingredients that I can't pronounce - I must admit - I do have a jar of Best Foods "Light" mayo in the fridge. I agree the fat free stuff is not for anyone with taste buds. And let's face it - we all wouldn't have weight issues if our taste buds didn't work.
The best foods brand light mayo - is good with Tuna - and is only 45 calories per tbs. most of the time I just have the mayo and tuna on whole wheat, but also good is some chopped apple in the mix. Sounds weird - I know, but give it a try.
Have you tried Miracle Whip Free? It's the one with the red cap and label instead of a blue cap and label. I have two mayos in my house because my hubby and I eat differently. His regular mayo is 100 calories for 1 tbsp. My Miracle Whip Free is 15 calories for 1 tbsp! And it tastes great! It doesn't taste "diet" at all!
I usually use light mayo, but the other day I bought some of that Hellman's/Best Foods "Dijonaise" stuff... it's like a combination of mayo and mustard, but the calories are closer to mustard... and I bet it would be good in a chicken salad, or maybe tuna!
Actually, I have some leftover cooked chicken, I might have to try that soon.
I like both light Miracle Whip and mayo for various things. Just not the free versions; ff Miracle Whip is over geletanized, and ff mayo is just...wrong on so many levels.
For chicken salad, I use FF cream cheese mixed with FF Greek Yogurt. Maybe also a little dijon mustard and fresh herbs (such as tarragon or cilantro).
For tuna salad, I've used FF Greek yogurt and dijon mustard as others have suggested. I've also used hummus and salsa (in different recipes, not at the same time). You also might try a low calorie Italian or vinaigrette dressing, mustard mixed with red wine vinegar, or guacamole. I've also used some of the flavored tuna (like Bumblebee's Tuna Sensations) without adding anything to it.
Mayo replacement?
