Tonnato is a creamy and tangy sauce made with anchovies, capers, and canned tuna that tastes waaaaay better than it sounds. It’s a protein-packed and keto-friendly sauce that tastes delicious drizzled on veggies and roasted meat!
Okay: what do you think of tonnato? For those of you smiling—high five! And if your nose is wrinkled in anchovy-hating disgust or bafflement, hear me out. I was once in your shoes, but this umami-packed paleo sauce is truly a cinch to make from pantry staples and tastes good on EVERYTHING.
What is tonnato sauce?
If you’ve never tried tonnato sauce, you’re in for a treat! This traditional Italian sauce is made with anchovies, capers, and canned tuna—it sounds wacky, but it tastes so dang good! Plus, this version is rich, protein-packed, Whole30- and keto-friendly, and totally versatile!
How do you use Tonnato Sauce?
This classic Italian sauce is typically paired with chilled poached veal (vitello tonnato) and served as a picnic dish. Sadly, I almost never have poached veal lying around the house, so after I blitz a fresh batch of tonnato, I pour it on crudités (raw vegetables), hard-boiled eggs, sliced tomatoes, cooked chicken, salads, or steamed vegetables (e.g., green beans). Or all of the above.
How long does it keep in the fridge?
You can keep the tonnato sauce in a sealed airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. I don’t normally freeze it because the texture gets wonky when you thaw it. Just put it on all the things already!
Ingredients
- Tuna packed in olive oil or water, drained: You’ll need a total of 7-ounce of tuna so that may be one or two cans / jars depending on the brand.
- Capers, rinsed and drained
- Anchovy fillets packed in olive oil, drained
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Mayonnaise: You can use homemade mayonnaise or your favorite store-bought variety.
- Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
More fantastic homemade sauces and dressings
Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2022).
PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD
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Dump all the ingredients in a blender and blitz until smooth and creamy.
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Adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
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The sauce can be kept in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for a about a week.
Once you have a batch of tonnato sauce, pour it on crudités, hard-boiled eggs, sliced heirloom tomatoes, poached or sous vide chicken, or steamed vegetables. It tastes great on everything!
Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 27g | Fiber: 1g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
