Peas and Pasta Salad with Tuna

By Booper-2

Classic peas and pasta salad, made with tiny shell pasta and dressed with homemade buttermilk Ranch, spicy mustard, dill, red onion, cubed cheese, bacon and gently tossed with tuna fillets.

Ingredients

• For the Dressing:
• 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup of buttermilk
• 1/4 About 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon of granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon of dried onion
• 1/8 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
• 1/8 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• For the Salad:
• 1/2 pound of small shell pasta (about 2 cups dry)
• 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1/4 cup of minced red onion
• 1 teaspoon Creole mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon of dill weed
• 1/2 teaspoon of Creole or Cajun seasoning (like Slap Ya Mama), or to taste, optional
• 1 cup of frozen green peas, thawed
• 1/2 cup of cubed sharp cheddar cheese
• 3 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/4 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning
• Juice of one medium lemon
• 1 (4.5 ounce) can of tuna fillets, drained
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Details

Servings 4
Preparation time 10mins
Cooking time 18mins
Adapted from deepsouthdish.com

Preparation

Step 1

Whisk together salad ingredients adding only enough vinegar to reach a thick but pourable consistency. Prepare pasta al dente according to package directions; drain well, toss with olive oil. Add red onion and blend in dressing. Add mustard, dill weed, Cajun seasoning, peas, cheese and bacon; gently toss. Add Old Bay, lemon juice and gently fold in tuna; taste and add salt and pepper only as needed. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.
(COOKS NOTE)
Make the salad dressing a day ahead if possible to allow the flavors to meld. May use regular milk instead of vinegar if you prefer and may also substitute 1-1/2 cups of your favorite commercial Ranch salad dressing. May also omit tuna, Old Bay and lemon juice, for a basic pea and pasta salad. Substitute cooked shrimp, crab, ham or chicken if you prefer.