Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Pasta Salad

This is tasty. But it's a bit on the oily side. And that was even after I substituted the oil-packed tuna for water-packed tuna. I'm wondering if decreasing the amount of olive oil in the recipe would help or if it would make the whole dish too dry. I have other pasta salad recipes that are better, so I'm not sure I'll necessarily make this again. I'm glad I made it though. It was worth a shot.

Pasta Salad
A variation on this recipe by Giada De Laurentiis


1 pound campanelle pasta
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1/4 cup
1 small or 1/2 medium red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (6-ounce) can tuna, drained
1 pint (2 cups) cherry tomatoes, halved
8 ounces canned or frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and quartered
2 tablespoons capers, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper


Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.

In a 14-inch skillet, heat 1/4 cup oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until aromatic. Add the tuna to the skillet and, using a fork, break into chunks. Add the cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, capers, and thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to soften, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the pasta, the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, and the parsley. Toss until all the ingredients are coated, adding a little pasta water, if needed, to thin out the sauce. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the pasta to a serving bowl and serve warm or at room temperature.

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