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Tuna pasta salad

June 26, 2024
Recipe

Most mayonnaise-based dressings, even fat-free ones, are high in sodium. Using a vinaigrette cuts sodium and adds a small amount of healthy olive oil.

Serves 4

To make a complete and colorful meal, serve this tuna salad with a blend of cubed cantaloupe, red grapes and strawberry halves.


To start, make the vinaigrette. In a small jar or bowl, add oil, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard and minced garlic. Mix well. Set aside.

Then fill a large pot 3/4 full with water. Bring water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook until tender (al dente) — about 10 to 12 minutes — or according to the package directions. Drain the pasta thoroughly and rinse under cold water.

In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, tuna, onions, peas, pepper and vinaigrette. Toss to mix well. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours.

To serve, place 1 cup of spinach on each of 4 chilled plates. Top each serving with 1/4 of the tuna salad and serve immediately.


For the dressing:

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 garlic clove, minced

For the salad:

  • 2 cups uncooked whole-wheat bow tie pasta (farfalle)
  • 2 cans (6 ounces each) unsalted white tuna packed in water, drained
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onions
  • 2/3 cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper, if desired
  • 4 cups fresh spinach

DASH Eating Plan Servings

Dairy foods (low-fat or fat-free) 1 1/2 Fats and oils Fruits 2 Grains and grain products 3 Meats, poultry and fish Nuts, seeds and dry beans Sweets 1 Vegetables

Diabetes Meal Plan Choices

Fats Dairy foods (low-fat or fat-free) Fruits Meat and meat substitutes Milk and milk products Nonstarchy vegetables Starches Sweets, desserts and other carbohydrates

Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid Servings

2 Carbohydrates 1 1/2 Fats Fruits 1 Protein and dairy Sweets 1/2 Vegetables

Nutritional analysis per serving

Calcium 391 Calories 46 g Total carbohydrate 36 mg Cholesterol 6.5 g Dietary fiber 6 g Monounsaturated fat Potassium 30 g Protein 2 g Saturated fat About 2 cups Serving size 175 mg Sodium 10 g Total fat