Tuna Pasta Salad

Here comes the recipe for another Pasta Salad after Red & Green Pasta Salad. Well, we have fallen in love with Pasta Salads and so I keep on trying some new Pasta Salad for lunch on weekdays. This is the recipe for making a yummy Salad using Tuna. You can use Canned Tuna for convenience.

You can add fruits like apple, grapes, pear and veggies like Cucumbers, Celery, Olives to this Tuna Pasta Salad. I cook pasta and refrigerate it for 2-3 days and then use it for making Salads when needed. This recipe easily serves 2 people.

Ingredients

1. Cooked Pasta – 4 to 5 cups (Medium Shells or any other variety)
2. Canned Tuna Fish – 1 small Can, 5 oz/142 gram (I used chunk light tuna in water)
3. Peeled and Finely Diced Apples – 1 medium (I used the sweet Red variety)
4. Baby Cucumbers – 2 small
5. Seedless Grapes – 1/2 cup (diced)
6. Finely chopped Roasted Cashew nuts/Peanuts/Walnuts/Pecans – A handful/1 oz (optional)
7. Red Chilly Powder – 1/2 tsp
8. Fish Masala Powder – 1 tsp ( I used store bought Eastern Fish Masala brand)
9. Mayonnaise  – 3 to 4 tbsp
10. Pickled Sweet Relish – 2 tbsp
11. Black Pepper powder – to taste
12. Salt – to taste

Preparation Method

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to the instructions on the packet, until pasta is al dente. Drain and keep aside.
2. Meanwhile, heat a non stick pan and add the drained tuna flakes.
3. Saute for a few minutes. Reduce heat and add 1/2 tsp red chilly powder and 1 tsp fish masala powder.
4. Sprinkle salt and pepper. Continue sauteing until the tuna has changed color (3-4 minutes approx). Keep aside.
5. Peel and chop apples and cucumbers into bite sized pieces.
6. Whisk mayonnaise and pickled relish in a bowl.
7. Add the cooked pasta, tuna flakes and all the other ingredients. Toss everything together. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Serve this salad at room temperature or you can go ahead and refrigerate it before serving.

Note

• If you wish, you may directly add canned tuna to the salad without cooking it further.I lightly sauteed the tuna with the masala powders for a better taste.
• You can use Curry Powder instead of Fish Masala Powder.