More Canned Tuna Recipes
Cozy Tuna Pasta Casserole/Bake Creamy Tuna Pasta salad Weeknight quick Canned Tomato Pasta with Tomato Cheesy Tuna Melt
More Summer Salad Recipes…
Roasted Corn Salad – Charring adds flavor to sweet corn and pairs well with a lemony, savory dressing. Italian Chopped Salad – Authentic Italian salad with fresh greens, tomatoes, and onions tossed in a light vinaigrette. Chinese Chicken Salad – Asian flavors from crispy noodles and chicken stir-fried in a sesame dressing. Chicken Pasta Salad – Grilled chicken is tossed with pasta and veggies in a lemon-herb dressing. Vegan Macaroni Salad – A creamy salad recipe with pasta and crisp vegetables. Pesto Pasta Salad – Classic Italian salad made with homemade pesto tossed with pasta, veggies, and greens. Easy and Zesty Quinoa Salad – Quinoa, vegetables, and feta cheese with an olive oil vinaigrette. Cherry Tomato Salad – Seasonal cherry tomatoes, red onion, and basil tossed in a light olive oil red wine dressing.
Light dressings for the summer and heavy, creamy, and cheesy dressings for the winter. That’s the formula I run with. For this season, my palette wanted a lighter version, with no mayo and cream, and I wanted it served cold. This is the perfect recipe for a chilled tuna pasta salad. I had canned tuna and pasta in the pantry, and all I had to do was throw in a vinaigrette-based dressing in the bowl. This recipe does not have any mayo or cream but is nonetheless tasty because of the tangy element from the vinaigrette. When you finish it from the bowl, pat yourself for your choice of a dish light in calories.
Great source of protein in tuna Omega 3 fatty acids help in immunity and are good for the heart Loaded with fiber to aid in digestion It has many essential minerals like sodium and potassium, which are required for general well-being. It is low in fat because of the healthy vinaigrette dressing.
The first thing to do is make the vinaigrette dressing. Mix the oil with pickle juice, garlic powder, and onion powder. Keep it ready to mix with the pasta once it is boiled. Boil the pasta as per the instructions on the packet. Turn off the heat when you feel the pasta is soft. Mix the pasta now with the dressing since it best absorbs all the dressing when warm and soft. Toss it gently in the dressing and serve it.
Can this be prepared in advance?
Definitely yes! An important tip here is to make sure that you chop, mix, and prepare only the veggies and tuna in a bowl a few hours in advance. Do not mix the salad dressing at that stage. The pasta will soak all the dressing and become soggy while the dressing dries when you serve. Mix the salad dressing just before you serve.
Storage
It is recommended to store the salad ingredients and the dressing separately in the refrigerator. The dressing can stay for a week, and the other ingredients for up to 3 days. Wrap the salad ingredients with plastic wrap or shift to an air-tight container and refrigerate them. For the dressing, store it in an air-tight jar. Mix the dressing with the salad ingredients right before you serve them, or you can chill the mixed salad for a couple of hours before serving.
Serve with
Have it as a light lunch or dinner while the pasta makes it fulfilling, tuna takes care of the protein part. There are veggies for added fiber and crunch.
