Tuna fish sandwiches were a staple in my childhood diet. My grandma would regularly pack them for me to take to school. My mom would make them as an easy dinner for my sister and me. Tuna fish was even my Subway order until halfway through high school because I couldn’t think of a better sandwich.
However, as I’ve grown older, I find that I’m not as easily satisfied with my meals. A simple sandwich just won’t satiate my hunger like it did ten years ago. As well, your coworkers tend to give you funny looks when you unpack a sandwich (or multiple sandwiches) for lunch. So I needed to figure out a way to incorporate my childhood love into a more mature dish.
That’s where tuna noodles came in. All you have to do is swap your bread for some pasta. These tuna noodles have become a common dish in my household because they’re cheap and easy, and everyone loves them. Now don’t go confusing this with tuna noodle casserole, which has the horrible reputation of being inedible. This dish is not only edible, but it’s excellent, especially when you’re looking for something quick and easy to eat.
So when you swing by your grocery store, you have three ingredients to pick up. A can of tuna will run you about $1. These will sometimes go on sale, and when they do, you should stock up - they will last for practically forever. I prefer chunk white or solid white tuna, but any kind will work. You’re also going to want to get a pound of noodles. Macaroni or shells tend to work the best, and these go for about $1 per box. Mayonnaise will be your most expensive ingredient at about $4 for a bottle, but Publix often has these one BOGO, so keep your eyes peeled. Possible additions to this are onion, celery and cherry tomatoes to give your dish a little extra crunch and some more flavors.
As for preparation, boil some water and cook your noodles, as per the instructions on the box (it should take about ten minutes, but you should cook them to your preferred tenderness). Drain your tuna while you wait. You can mix everything together in a bowl, putting in as much mayonnaise as you deem appropriate - we all have different opinions on this, I know. You’ll almost certainly have extras, which leaves you with meals to bring for lunch that won’t cause your coworkers to laugh at you. Enjoy!
