Anytime Tuna Orzo Salad

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Anytime Tuna Orzo Salad

Pasta tuna salad is a little different but not much more difficult than making a plain old tuna salad.  Since I always have cans of line-caught tuna on hand, this “recipe” goes into my dinner menu every so often when I am too lazy to turn on the oven but when I want a dinner with enough leftovers for the next day.  This kind of thing can typically be pretty bland, so the fresh herbs kick it up a notch!

I started with a recipe from St. Jude Tuna, the place where I order cans of line-caught albacore here in Seattle.  You could add other blanched vegetables (green beans especially) to make it your own. And I have prepared this in Guatemala, using Israeli couscous (no orzo easily available) and cilantro-again because it is readily available.

Anytime Tuna Orzo Salad

Serves 4-6

Tuna Salad Ingredients

• 8 oz orzo pasta, cook according to directions.
• 1 small can line-caught albacore tuna
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ cup English cucumber, diced (no need to peel but I do seed it)
• ¼  cup red onion, finely diced
• ⅓ cup pitted kalamata or pitted green olives, sliced
• ¼ cup toasted walnuts (optional) 
• ⅓  cup fresh dill, chopped
• ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese, if you have it

Dressing Ingredients

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice
• 1 tbsp white wine or champagne vinegar
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp maple syrup or honey
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Cook orzo or another tiny pasta according to directions until al dente. Then run cold water over it, shake dry. 
2. Make the Dressing: Whisk together olive oil, lemon or lime juice, vinegar, mustard, maple syrup,  garlic, salt, and pepper.
3. Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, toss orzo with tuna, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, nuts, and herbs.
4. Dress and Serve: Pour dressing over salad, toss well, and top with feta if using. Let sit for ten minutes for flavors to meld.
5. Enjoy! Serve chilled or at room temperature.  Leftovers are excellent the next day.