“Tastes like a tuna melt, but it’s pasta salad.”
Yup, pretty much.
It’s supposed to hit 30 degrees here today, so I wanted to get a jump on our supper this morning before it got too hot. I had some vegetables in the fridge I wanted to use up, and was brainstorming ways I could do that. Checked the pantry and I had a can of tuna and a box of dry pasta. Perfect.
This tuna melt pasta salad is everything you’d put in a tuna melt, minus the bread, plus pasta. It is just as delicious as I remember from when I was younger. This salad always reminds me of my Aunt Gail. It’s a salad I remember eating when visiting her at the lake. This is my version of your pasta salad, Gug. I’m so happy I took the time to make it today.
I also got the chance to use some of the Epicure Lemon Dilly seasoning in this salad. I’ll be honest and say that when I found out why lemon dilly is one of Epicure’s most popular dips, I wondered why. Then I got some for myself, and I LOVE it. I put it in all kinds of stuff now – potatoes on the BBQ, potato salad, homemade tartar sauce, and now pasta salad. It’s really versatile.
If you don’t have any of the Epicure seasoning to use it your salad, it is mostly made up of dried dill. You can substitute it, or just leave it out of this recipe entirely. This salad holds up just fine without it.
[Recipe] Tuna Melt Pasta Salad
250 grams dry pasta (I used 1/2 box of large shells)
1 can flaked tuna in water, drained and minced
1/4 large red onion, finely chopped
2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
1/2 sweet pepper, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, finely grated
1 Tbsp Epicure Lemon Dilly Dip Mix
1 cup whipped dressing (Miracle Whip style, not mayonnaise)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box. For this salad, I prefer the pasta to be well cooked. Once cooked, rinse the pasta with cold water and set it aside to cool.
While the pasta’s cooking, prep your veggies.
Add the tuna and veggies to a large mixing bowl.
Add the pasta to the salad and give everything a good mix.
Add the whipped dressing, cheese, Lemon Dilly Dip Mix, salt, and pepper.
Mix well.
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