Kung Fu Tuna Salad

I'm a huge fan of the Marvel superhero movies that have come out in recent years, especially the Ironman franchise. I saw the third installment at the theater just a few days ago. If you haven't seen it, one word... DO! In one scene, Tony Stark recites a long list of what he needs to repair his armor, ending with a tuna salad sandwich which, at that moment, sounded so much better than my dry popcorn!

There's a lot of nutrition talk going on these days about the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in a heart healthy diet. Omega-3 is essential for regulating blood clotting and supporting cell health. Unfortunately, the body doesn't produce it, so it's something we have to include in our diets. The good news, for me, is that the number one source of omega-3 fatty acids is cold water fish, such as tuna, salmon and mackerel, all of which I enjoy eating. However, I've shied away from tuna salad recently, to avoid the high cholesterol content found in eggs and, by association, mayo. But, let's face it, sometimes you just gotta give in to those comfort food cravings.

I decided to add a little oomph to my tuna salad creation, but substituting wasabi dressing for the plain mayo and including more crunch with carrots and radishes.

For convenience, I used canned tuna and prepared wasabi dressing (found in the salad dressing aisle). Drain the tuna really well. Add two tablespoons of wasabi dressing and mix well. Add chopped hard boiled egg, celery, radishes, sweet pickles, onions and parsley and carrot matchsticks. Toss to mix well.

Another good addition would be water chestnuts, which I didn't have, and peas, which I thought of after I got to work. Good thing tuna also helps with cognition and memory!

The wasabi gives a nice little kick to ordinary tuna salad. I served it on a quartered tomato, but it would also do well with cucumber boats or on a stack of crunchy chow mein noodles. 

Thanks, Ironman, for the suggestion.

Just one more reason you're my favorite superhero!