Campanelle Pasta Salad
This tuna salad is full of flavor from capers, thyme, and canned tuna packed in the authentically Italian method – with oil!
Campanelle Pasta Salad
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INGREDIENTS:
- 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 Italian tuna in oil, such as Flott, drained
- 1 pint 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 8 ounces 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
INSTRUCTIONS:
- 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.
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Newman
I just made this, and it's FANTASTIC!...I halved it (w/ a small/4oz can of tuna), as I'm only cooking for one...the artichokes I had were no bueno, so substituted a can of sliced black olives...and had some fresh grated parm' leftover from last night's dinner and tossed that in at the end as well--about 1/4 cup....I can't explain how well the flavors blend here--I've eaten about 1/2 of it already, warm--can't stop sneaking a bite--hope the rest makes it to dinner!...thanks, Giada, for another homerun classic--going into my repertoire!...CHEERS!
That's awesome! The best thing about recipes like this is how you can switch out ingredients with whatever you have. So happy you loved it!