Tuna Pasta Salad with Avocado Dressing
GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE, SOY FREE, EGG FREE, SUGAR FREE
This family favorite, Tuna Pasta Salad, has been recreated in our kitchen using my favorite food - avocado, as a base for a delicious dairy and egg free dressing. Think beyond tuna salad - this dressing can be used for any pasta salad, or even egg, chicken or tuna salad. My 12 year old loved it so much she went back for seconds!
I was inspired by discovering Red Lentil pasta at Costco this weekend, and very surprised to find ONE ingredient - red lentils! Usually these gluten free pastas are a challenge, and I doubted they would cook up well...and there are some important tips to share after the first batch, frankly, bombed.
The trick to cooking red lentil gluten free pasta is to take it out of the boiling water BEFORE it is perfect al dente! My first attempt was good, but I became distracted in a conversation and did not get my almost done pasta out of the water. Approximately 5 minutes later I drained the pasta, and I could see immediately that it was overcooked and mushy. Not good for pasta salad - I plan to chop it up fine (one large clump) and press into a pie plate as a base for an egg dish bake - so as not to waste.
The second batch turned out perfectly - cooking 8 min. as directed on the package and removing immediately. The dressing MUST BE ready to go on the pasta....drain, place in large mixing bowl, and start tossing with the avocado dressing.
Shopping List:
UDDOs red lentil bean pasta (c)
Wild Planet Tuna (c)
Coconut Secret Coconut Aminos
Produce:
1 Avocado
1 smallYellow Onioin (1/4 cup chopped and two 1/8" thick slices)
2 Tomatillos
1 large or 2 small organic carrots (chopped fine)
1 1/2 cup frozen green baby peas
SuperCharge Foods Sunflower/Pea Shoots (for garnish)
(found at Willy Street Co Op in Madison, WI area)
Spices:
Simply Organic Ground Ginger
Frontier Turmeric
Celtic Sea Salt (or Himalayan)
Pampered Chef Chipotle Seasoning
(c) = Costco finds
I was inspired by discovering Red Lentil pasta at Costco this weekend, and very surprised to find ONE ingredient - red lentils! Usually these gluten free pastas are a challenge, and I doubted they would cook up well...and there are some important tips to share after the first batch, frankly, bombed.
The trick to cooking red lentil gluten free pasta is to take it out of the boiling water BEFORE it is perfect al dente! My first attempt was good, but I became distracted in a conversation and did not get my almost done pasta out of the water. Approximately 5 minutes later I drained the pasta, and I could see immediately that it was overcooked and mushy. Not good for pasta salad - I plan to chop it up fine (one large clump) and press into a pie plate as a base for an egg dish bake - so as not to waste.
The second batch turned out perfectly - cooking 8 min. as directed on the package and removing immediately. The dressing MUST BE ready to go on the pasta....drain, place in large mixing bowl, and start tossing with the avocado dressing.
Shopping List:
UDDOs red lentil bean pasta (c)
Wild Planet Tuna (c)
Coconut Secret Coconut Aminos
Produce:
1 Avocado
1 smallYellow Onioin (1/4 cup chopped and two 1/8" thick slices)
2 Tomatillos
1 large or 2 small organic carrots (chopped fine)
1 1/2 cup frozen green baby peas
SuperCharge Foods Sunflower/Pea Shoots (for garnish)
(found at Willy Street Co Op in Madison, WI area)
Spices:
Simply Organic Ground Ginger
Frontier Turmeric
Celtic Sea Salt (or Himalayan)
Pampered Chef Chipotle Seasoning
(c) = Costco finds
To make the avocado dressing, remove ripe avocado from the skin and place in a blender. (I have fallen in love with the Ninja IQ blender.) Add to the blender
- 1/4 cop chopped onion, or two 1/8" thick slices,
- 2 whole tomatillos, washed and dried
- 1/4 tsp. ginger
- 1/2 tsp. ginger
- 1/2 tsp. turmeric
- 1/2 tsp. chipotle seasoning
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- 1/4 tsp. white or black pepper
- juice/oil from the Wild Planet Tuna (low mercury)
- 2 T. coconut aminos sauce
Blend until smooth and creamy. Makes approximately one cup of dressing, depending on size of avocado.
Set tuna aside in a bowl and flake with fork. Once pasta is drained, do not rinse in cold water, but immediately add to large stainless steel mixing bowl. Pour 1/4 cup of avocado dressing on top of pasta and lightly toss until coated. Add frozen peas, and set aside to cool for several minutes. (Warmth of pasta will quickly thaw peas.)
When the pasta is no longer steaming, add in the flaked tuna, chopped carrot and onion, and additional avocado dressing, approximately 1/2 cup, or to desired consistency.
To serve, plate pasta salad in bowl or on plate, add a dollop of avocado dressing on top and sprinkle with SuperCharge Foods fresh sprouts of choice. We love the sunflower and pea shoot combo. SuperCharge Foods live foods are a great source of energy and a powerhouse of nutrition, and make a great garnish for any pasta salad dish.
Feel Great. Look Great. Live Great!
Rita Shimniok, Purely Living Wellness, Cross Plains, WI
Creating elimination diet friendly food dishes that are kid tested and approved.
- 1/4 cop chopped onion, or two 1/8" thick slices,
- 2 whole tomatillos, washed and dried
- 1/4 tsp. ginger
- 1/2 tsp. ginger
- 1/2 tsp. turmeric
- 1/2 tsp. chipotle seasoning
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- 1/4 tsp. white or black pepper
- juice/oil from the Wild Planet Tuna (low mercury)
- 2 T. coconut aminos sauce
Blend until smooth and creamy. Makes approximately one cup of dressing, depending on size of avocado.
Set tuna aside in a bowl and flake with fork. Once pasta is drained, do not rinse in cold water, but immediately add to large stainless steel mixing bowl. Pour 1/4 cup of avocado dressing on top of pasta and lightly toss until coated. Add frozen peas, and set aside to cool for several minutes. (Warmth of pasta will quickly thaw peas.)
When the pasta is no longer steaming, add in the flaked tuna, chopped carrot and onion, and additional avocado dressing, approximately 1/2 cup, or to desired consistency.
To serve, plate pasta salad in bowl or on plate, add a dollop of avocado dressing on top and sprinkle with SuperCharge Foods fresh sprouts of choice. We love the sunflower and pea shoot combo. SuperCharge Foods live foods are a great source of energy and a powerhouse of nutrition, and make a great garnish for any pasta salad dish.
Feel Great. Look Great. Live Great!
Rita Shimniok, Purely Living Wellness, Cross Plains, WI
Creating elimination diet friendly food dishes that are kid tested and approved.