Old Time Macaroni Tuna Salad

Macaroni and tuna salad seems to show up at every picnic, family reunion, and potluck. The beauty of the dish is that it goes together quickly and easily. Plus, it’s not hard on your wallet.

As with other old-time favorites, consider putting your own spin on this recipe. Add things like:

Bacon

Bread and butter pickles

Garlic

Hard boiled eggs

Lemon juice

Petite peas

Relish

Smoky paprika

In choosing tuna for your salad, lean toward tuna packed in olive oil. It’s generally tastier than that packed in water. If you plan on making the salad ahead of time (it benefits from resting in the refrigerator overnight), just remember to take it out a few minutes before serving. Test for moisture. You can add a tablespoon of milk to create a creamier texture.

Ingredients

1 lb elbow macaroni
½ cup minced green onion
1 cup sweet pepper (any color)
¾ cup chopped onion
4 tsp parsley flakes
10 oz tuna in oil
1 cup chopped celery
¼ cup mayonnaise
½ tsp paprika
Cracked pepper to taste
Salt to taste
1 ½ cup mayonnaise

Instructions

Put one quart of water on the stove and bring it to a rolling bowl.
Add the macaroni
Cook uncovered for 12 minutes
Remove from the heat and drain
Give the macaroni a rinse with cold water to stop the cooking
Set aside
Put together all the other ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir until well-incorporated
Add the macaroni and mayonnaise stirring again.
Chill before serving.

Notes

TIP: If you like pretty presentations, put the portions of macaroni on a large, fresh lettuce leaf for serving.