Weekend Recipe: Tuna and Green Bean Salad

I rarely find a recipe on the Food Network website that's surprisingly good. For the most part, their recipes are good, but they're very safe. This one, from Giada De Spanno Laurentiis, was surprisingly good and would be perfect for a Labor Day party. It's light, easy to make, easy to share, and easy to adjust (quantities, spices, etc.). I made it for the real Mrs. Spanno this week and she just kept saying how great it was--and she never does that.

Giada's Tuna and Green Bean Salad

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds slender green beans, trimmed, halved crosswise
3 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
2 large red potatoes, diced
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
9 ounces canned tuna packed in oil, drained

Directions:
Cook the green beans in a large pot of boiling water until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Using a mesh strainer, transfer the green beans to a large bowl of ice water to cool completely. Drain the green beans and pat dry with a towel. Add 2 teaspoons of salt to the same cooking liquid and bring the liquid to a simmer. Add the potatoes to the simmering liquid and cook until they are just tender but still hold their shape, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the potatoes to the ice water to cool completely. Drain the potatoes and pat dry with a towel.

In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice, garlic, oil, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Place the tomatoes, basil and parsley in a large serving bowl. Add the tuna and toss gently to combine. Add the green beans and potatoes and gently combine. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.

--Spanno

Comments

[on August 31, 2008 at 09:05 PM]

Loved the recipe. Had some doubters in my house when they heard the title but they are now all believers in how wonderfully the flavors combine.