Tuna fennel pasta with apples.
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Supper Club: Tuna-Fennel Pasta Salad

I didn’t love this dish, but everyone else seemed to enjoy it. I’m not sure if it was just overshadowed by the more powerful flavors of the other dishes at our Supper Club event, or if my taste buds are just off lately. This has very mild flavors, and I suppose would make a nice, light lunch, but I probably won’t bother making it again.

Tuna fennel pasta with apples.

Tuna-Fennel Pasta Salad
Cooking Light September 2011

Sure, premium oil-packed tuna is a splurge, but the texture and rich flavor are worth it.

Yield: Serves 4 (serving size: 2 cups)
Total: 24 Minutes

8 ounces uncooked penne (tube-shaped pasta)
1 (7.8-ounce) jar solid white tuna packed in oil (such as Ortiz)
1 lemon
1 Fuji apple, sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 small fennel bulb with stalks

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain pasta in a large colander over a bowl, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Rinse pasta under cold water; drain. Drain tuna, reserving 2 tablespoons oil. Grate 2 teaspoons rind from lemon; squeeze 3 tablespoons juice. Combine reserved oil, rind, and juice in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Add pasta to oil mixture, tossing to coat. Fold in tuna and apple. Remove fronds from fennel bulb; finely chop fronds to measure 3 tablespoons. Remove and discard stalks. Thinly slice fennel bulb. Stir fronds and sliced fennel into pasta mixture.

Add reserved pasta liquid and 1/2 teaspoon salt, tossing to coat pasta salad evenly.

Sustainable Choice: Industry label regulations require solid white tuna to be from the albacore variety.

Amount per serving

Calories: 411
Fat: 12.1g
Saturated fat: 1.9g
Monounsaturated fat: 6.7g
Polyunsaturated fat: 2.4g
Protein: 23.3g
Carbohydrate: 53.3g
Fiber: 5.1g
Cholesterol: 17mg
Iron: 2.8mg
Sodium: 549mg
Calcium: 52mg

Big Flavors Rating: 3 Stars

Ashley Covelli is a food photographer, recipe developer, and culinary instructor based in Ossining, New York. She loves helping people become enthusiastic and adventurous in the kitchen so that they can build skills and confidence to cook for themselves and their loved ones. She can almost always be found with at least 3 different beverages within arm's reach.

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