Tuna Vegetable Salad

Make my Tuna Vegetable Salad when you’re craving springtime in a bowl.  With plenty of crisp colorful veggies packed with flavor, plus your protein of choice for a complete and satisfying meal.

Have you ever been starving and looked in your refrigerator only to find nothing that appeals to you?  That’s what happened to me yesterday when I tried to find something for lunch. 

Instead of running out to the store or to get a carryout I looked to see what I had stored in my refrigerator drawers, cabinets and pantry.  To my surprise I was able to come up with a dish that was so good, I’ll be able to eat it through the weekend.

Creating dishes from what lurks in your cabinets and refrigerator is so rewarding.  You don’t have to be a seasoned cook to do it. Simply combine ingredients that YOU like, in a fashion that sounds appealing. That’s how I came up with this Tuna Vegetable Salad.

After gathering up all my ingredients, I took stock of what I had and how I wanted to prepare them.  I knew I wanted the salad to feel fresh, and crunchy. Cooking them too long would cause them to lose their nutritional value, crunchiness, and stability. However a quick 1 minute blanching  for some would do the trick.

I also didn’t feel like fussing too much with the ingredients especially since I was already hungry. I opted for some quick fix  ways of prepping.

All my ingredients were fresh except, I did use a can of Cannellini Beans.  To rid them of the sodium used in packing, I poured them into a fine mesh sieve and rinsed thoroughly removing all salt and thick coating surrounding them. In fact, I do this anytime I use canned vegetables with the exception of tomatoes that require the juices.

If you’re not a fan of tuna then substitute salmon, chicken, beef, or shrimp. If you’re vegetarian sub the meat for tofu, or only veggies and beans.  If vegan, omit the cheese. If you’re not a fan of beans add pasta, quinoa, or other grain of choice.

I think you’ll enjoy my Tuna Vegetable Salad for a quick, healthy, and colorful dish. Drizzled with my fresh Honey Lemon Dressing it’s perfect year round and even for an outdoor picnic.

Serve in bowls, or lettuce cups, in a cozy wrap, or even mason jars for a picnic or if you’re on the go. My Tuna Vegetable Salad will soon become your new favorite – just as it has mine!

Print Recipe

Tuna Vegetable Salad

Yield: 4-6 Servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 minute

Total Time: 21 minutes

My Tuna Vegetable Salad is so nutritious - packed with vitamins, minerals, crunch, and color, for a light meal, side or picnic. This will quickly become a family favorite recipe in your home!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 a bundle of asparagus, bottom stalks trimmed
• 15 ounce can Cannellini Beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup chopped carrots (approx. 1 carrot)
• 1/2 English cucumber, chopped
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
• 5 oz. cherry tomatoes,  halved
• 1/2 each red, yellow & orange bell peppers, chopped
• 1/2 cup Nicoise olives
• 4 oz. Feta cheese, crumbled
• Thyme, several fresh sprigs
• lemon zest, from lemon used in dressing
• Sea Salt & fresh ground pepper, to taste

Dressing:

• 1 lemon (approximately 1/4 cup (zest lemon before juicing for salad)
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (1/3 cup or to taste)
• 1-2  teaspoons honey or to taste

Directions:

1. Blanch asparagus.  Remove rough stalks at the bottom, rinse and place on a microwaveable plate with water.  Place in microwave for 1 minute, remove and rinse with cold water. Alternate version: Set asparagus in boiling water for 1 minute. Remove then plunge in an ice bath or cold water to stop the cooking process. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces.
2. Add all ingredients into bowl except salt, pepper, feta cheese and dressing. Chill until ready to serve.
3. Dressing: Make dressing by squeezing the juice of one lemon into a small bowl, then whisking in olive oil to taste until you get the right balance.  Add honey to taste, and emulsify.
4. To serve: Add feta cheese, toss with desired amount of dressing and salt & pepper to taste.  Toss and serve.

 

Note: If not using all the salad at once do not add the dressing until using.  This will keep the salad with ingredients stabilized for a longer period of time.

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