A wonderful lunch staple in Italy is a tuna pasta salad – carbs and healthy protein all in one meal!
We know tuna an economical way to feed your family at around $1.29 a can – you’ll need three cans for this recipe: and just under $15.00 to feed four people!
- 3 cans of your favorite tuna – Starkist white meat tuna $1.29 x 3 = $3.87
- 1 box of Barilla pasta elbow shape $1.89
- 1 green pepper$1.00
- 1 small shallot or yellow onion $.89
- 1 carrot – $.89
- 1/2 cup of olive oil – $.50
- Salt and pepper to taste – $.20
- Optional bread – 5 rolls for $5.00
Tip: If your family doesn’t like tuna – use 1/2 pound of cooked chicken breast and cut into small cubes for around the same price of the tuna – $3.87!
Let’s start cooking!
First, you’ll need to boil salted water to cook the pasta. Once the pasta is cooked – drain the water and leave that on the counter until we are ready for the pasta later in the recipe. Next is the onion – I like to sautee my onion in olive oil versus using raw onion – so put a little olive oil in a pan and add your chopped onion – the finer you chop the onion the better!! Using low heat cook the onion until it is transparent for about 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and add to a large shallow bowl. Next, chop your green pepper and carrot and add that to the onions – next drain three cans of tuna and add to the bowl – then add the cooked elbow pasta and mix together. Now add the 1/2 cup of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Mix again thoroughly – and you’re done!! It may surprise you that we don’t use mayonnaise in this dish but trust me – if you use good robust olive oil you won’t miss the mayonnaise – and olive oil is healthier than mayo!
You can use this in a delicious sandwich with fresh bread rolls or take a generous scoop and plate it on top of a piece of lettuce and you’ve got lunch for five for less than $15.00.
By Rosemaria Altieri
Follow Rosemaria on Instagram @RosemariaBeauty