Monday, April 27, 2009

Mediterranean Tuna Salad - At Last Tuna Salad I Can Eat!

Saturday, while shopping up and down Chicago's Magnificent Mile - upper Michigan Avenue - I decided to dart into a nearby deli, L'Appetito, to grab a quick salad. I was in Chicago to attend my brothers wedding, but could not resist getting in as much shopping time as I could. Where I live in South Carolina, I have to drive at least two and a half hours in either direction - Charlotte or Atlanta - to even come close to what is available in the Windy City.
So there I was looking at the take-out menu board trying to decide what would be the most healthy, yet fulfilling thing to eat. Afterall, I had a very well defined little dress I needed to fit into that night. When I initially glimpsed the tuna salad my eyes went right past it. As I am allergic to eggs, thus mayonnaise - and what self-respecting tuna salad does not have mayo in it - I immediately skipped right over it. But my eyes kept coming back to it because it looked so scrumptious. It had all the things I like - olives, artichoke hearts and capers. So I asked the question that I have become accustomed to asking all my life. "Does the tuna salad have egg in it?"
Already anticipating what the answer would be, I had decided on the corned beef sandwich. Now there goes that cute little dress I was planning on wearing up in flames (I thought) !! There was no way after eating that three inch corned beef sandwich I was going to fit into that dress! When I heard the words from behind the counter come back at me with "there is no egg in this tuna salad" I thought I would start to cry.
So, long story short, I have found the tuna salad of my dreams and I want to share it with you.

Recipe:
2 cans Tuna (6 ounces each)
2 tablespoons Red Onions, finely minced
5 ounces Artichoke Hearts, quartered
10 Kalamata Olives, halved
1 tablespoon capers
1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley, minced
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed
Salt and Pepper
Boston Lettuce
Tomatoes, sliced

Toss all ingredients, except lettuce and tomatoes, together. Arrange lettuce and tomatoes on a platter and top with tuna mixture.