I may have added this one to the Girl Lunch section, but this tuna salad with hearts of palm linguine does not disappoint. One, I love Asian flavors – I honestly can’t get enough. So sign me up if any recipe features Thai, Chinese, Korean or Japanese flavors and spices.
And this one has just that. With the Thai Chili flavored tuna, and I use Bachan’s Japanese BBQ sauce, I am one happy camper when I make this recipe! Plus, it takes practically seconds to make (as long as you either do without the egg or make/peel your eggs ahead). Hello – meal prep!?
Best of all, you can enjoy this tuna salad cold and hot! Just may not the arugula. You can also make as many substitutions as you like – add in mandarins, bean sprouts, or rice noodles. Like a little extra heat? Pop in some diced Jalapenos!
Oh, and not to mention, it’s CHEAP to make! A whopping $5 per meal – you’re talking $25 worth of lunches for the week. Say less!
Cost breakdown for this recipe
*Note: Item costs can vary based on location, inflation, brand, and sale price. I do my best to buy/suggest the most cost-effective option. I also may not factor certain ingredients into the price where their amounts have an inconsiderable impact, like sugar, spices, salt, oil or baking powder.
| Item purchased | Item Cost | Cost to make recipe |
|---|---|---|
| Tuna packet (Thai Chili/Sweet and Spicy) | $1.00 | $1.00 |
| Hearts of palm (Fettucine/Linguine) | $2.49 | $1.24 |
| Modern Mills Topper (Protein) | $5.99 | $1.00 |
| Bachan Japanese BBQ Sauce | $8.59 | $0.25 |
| Avocado (1) | $0.89 | $0.89 |
| Egg (1) | $6.99 | $0.58 |
| Arugula | $3.49 | $0.50 |
| Total item(s) cost: $29.44 | Total recipe cost: $5.46 |
Money-saving tips
- Buy what’s on sale.
- If you already have it in your pantry or fridge, duh, don’t buy it!
- Only buy the amount you need to make the recipe – i.e., if the recipe only calls for 2 lemons, only buy 2 single lemons, don’t buy the bag!
- The price difference between organic, non-organic, fresh and frozen options – organic/frozen can be the most cost effective (i.e., depending on brand/store, if it’s on sale or BOGO).
Tuna Salad Bowl with Hearts of Palm Linguine
It's not just your ordinary tuna salad - this recipe also features hearts of palm linguine, a sprinkling of all the right fixings, such as avocado and a soft-boiled egg, and Asian flavors all nestled on top of a hefty bed of baby arugula. Whether you're looking for dinner in a pinch or a lunch meal prep recipe, this tuna salad bowl is both filling and totally affordable.
Ingredients
Instructions
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First off, the 8-minute bulk of this recipe is soft boiling the egg. If you are doing without the egg, then skip to Step 4.
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Bring a pot of water to boil and gently drop your egg into the water, and boil for 8 minutes (this is the approximate time for a soft-boiled egg, where the yolk is not too firm but also not runny).
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Once the 8 minutes are up, allow the egg to sit in an ice bath for a minute or two, or while you get your other ingredients together (including your avocado). You can add your egg at the very end.
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In a bowl, add your arugula, hearts of palm (Fettucine/Linguine) and tuna packet. It's up to you if you want to mix these together - if you are meal prepping for the week, you might want to keep the ingredients separate until ready to eat.
For those wondering about the hearts of palm, there's the brand Palmini, which you can find as places like Publix or Walmart, and then Aldi has their own Simply Nature brand that features hearts of palm linguine/angel hair. -
Garnish with your Protein salad topper, sesame seeds, avocado and soft-boiled egg.
Note
*Eat Rich Live Full is not a nutritionist or dietitian. For nutritional information, it is advised to refer to a nutritionist, dietitian or an online nutritional resource calculator. Nutritional information can vary depending on ingredients, ingredient types and brands used for each recipe.