Gluten-Free Virtual BBQ 2008 - P is for Pasta Salad!


This was so much fun. It is my first time participating in a blogger event and it's also my first time coming up with my own gluten-free recipe. I chose pasta salad for a few reasons, I had a lot of Tinkyada on hand, plus a bunch of veggies to use up, and it's the beginning of summer and I wanted to have a good recipe to bring to BBQ's this year. I got home from work and put on my favorite comfy pants and set to work. I started by gathering the ingredients:

Pasta Salad 003

Next, put the pasta on to boil:

Pasta Salad 005

Then got to chopping the veggies:

Pasta Salad 006
Note the garbage bowl in the upper right. One thing I like about Rachel Ray!

I did a bunch of other things... and then finally I came up with THIS!

Pasta Salad 011
YUM!

Ok here's the recipe:

GF Tuna and Avocado Pasta Salad
Serves 4

12 oz. of GF Pasta, I use Tinkyada
1 Medium Avocado
1/2 Medium Yellow Onion (next time I'll use red for more flavor)
1 Green Pepper
1 Vine Ripe Tomato
1 Lemon
6 slices of bacon, I used the microwaveable kind
1/2 C of Mayonnaise
1 can of Solid White Albacore Tuna packed in water

1. Cook the pasta just enough so that it's al dente. For me it was about 7 minutes. Rinse, drain and chill.
2. While the pasta is cooking, chop up the onion, pepper, tomato
3. Cut up the avocado and then cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice of one half over the avocado to prevent browning.
4. Cook the bacon, dry it on paper towels and then crumble it.
5. When the pasta is chilled enough, combine it with the vegetables, avocado and bacon.
6. Open and drain the tuna, chop it into small pieces and add to the salad.
7. Add the mayonnaise and then squeeze the juice from the other half of the lemon. Stir to combine all of the ingredients.
8. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

For my first recipe I think it's pretty good! As noted, I might change the yellow onion to a red onion for more flavor, and I might also add some fresh herbs like basil. I might also adjust the amount of each ingredient used, like I could've used more tomato. It was definitely a learning experience and I loved it! I can't wait to come up with my next recipe!

Thank You Kate for setting this up for us!!!

Comments

M said…
I just had to leave you a comment!

I am so glad to have found your blog. One of my really good friends has Celiac disease. She has to eat gluten free. So many staff members at my sons school also have celiacs. This recipe is going to come in handy. I can't wait to surprise them with it.

I'll be checking back for more ideas.

Thanks.

xo M
Kate said…
Oh yum - I was just about to make pasta salad for dinner! Perfect timing! :)

Thanks for participating! I look forward to reading more and more of your recipes. :)
Yum, this looks so refreshing!
Carrie said…
this sounds SOOOO good! I have an idea for something to do with an avocado too! Just to find the time!! ;-) Great post!!
Cat Von C said…
Sounds delicious. I love almost anything with avocado in it.

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