Category: Dinner Recipes for One Person

Most dinner recipes are for two or four.  It’s too much food for one person. Making extra is fine at times (especially for soup or chili), but extra servings aren’t always ideal. These dinner recipes for one person make just enough for a single serving.

No leftovers.  No fussing.  And every recipe has links to similar recipes (so that you have ideas for the rest of the package of chicken, the carton of eggs, or the eggplant you bought. I, for one, hate having food go bad because it didn’t get used.

Chicken Recipes for One Person

Stir Fry Chicken with Peanut Sauce

Easy Chicken Curry Recipe

Crispy Lemon Chicken Thigh Recipe for One

Single Serving Chicken Recipe with Tarragon and Mushrooms

Pasta Recipes for One

Penne with Feta Cheese, Sun-dried Tomatoes, and Olives

Pistachio Pesto Pasta Recipe

Spaghetti with Spinach and Lemon Cream Sauce

Pasta alla Norma with Eggplant

Fish Recipes for One

Salmon with Greek Yogurt Dill Sauce

Pan Fried Tilapia with Lemon Butter Sauce

Indian Fish Fillet in Yogurt Sauce

Sephardic Fish in Peppery Tomato Sauce

This easy and delicious fish in peppery tomato sauce is flavored with garlic, coriander, harissa, and piquant capers, bathed in a slightly spicy tomato sauce. It’s another one of those “Jewish” recipes you may not recognize as Jewish. In America we tend to think of “Ashkenazi” food as Jewish, call it a day, and forget about the Sephardim. This is a terrible mistake, since Sephardic food (Spanish, Middle Eastern, Portuguese, and North African) is spicy, flavorful, and has much more variety than its Eastern European cousins.   In fact, one day, I want to skip the Eastern European Passover and have a Sephardic one instead! Goals! 

I’ve adapted this recipe from The Book of Jewish Food , which says that fish is  considered a symbol of abundance, making it a favorite dish for Friday night (Sabbath) meals. Fish was also popular in Morocco and Italy for weddings, as it was thought to symbolize fruitfulness. For Rosh Hashanah, it was served with the head left on, so Jews would be “ ‘ahead with good deeds and serve as a model of goodness. ’ ”  I think this dish certainly fits the bill.

The nice thing is that you don’t have to wait for a holiday or a special occasion to make it. It’s ready in about 25 minutes, so it’s perfect for a weeknight dinner.

If you’re not familiar with harissa, it’s a hot chili garlic sauce used for fish, chicken, and lots of other dishes in North Africa. As I am writing this, it occurs to me that it’s a bit like Asian sriracha sauce.  If you have some, or can get some, use it. If not, a mixture of cayenne and paprika will work just fine.

I also saw another, similar recipe (called chraime) that referred to this as Sephardic “gefilte fish.” Never having been a big fan of gefilte fish, I’ll take this recipe in a New York minute!

The dish will work with any firm white fish, such as grouper, red snapper, or cod. I used cod from Trader Joe’s (the frozen fish is inexpensive and good quality). Serve it with rice (as I did), or make it with couscous.




Fish in Peppery Tomato Sauce Substitutions and Variations

  • Try sriracha or chili garlic sauce instead of the harissa paste (with a bit more coriander added this is similar to a Tunisian version of this dish)
  • Use cumin, tomato paste, and both sweet and hot peppers in the sauce
  • Add olive oil, then the fish, then top that with one or two whole garlic cloves, more salt and pepper, and more coriander, and let it cook on a grill for half an hour (if you like fresh cooked tomatoes, put them under and over the fish

Try These Other Fish Recipes

easy mediterranean fish stewEasy Mediterranean Fish Stew

Variations on this stew are popular all over the Mediterranean, as well as in San Francisco.  Make it (and eat it) in half an hour. Or, go up to to the point of adding the fish, freeze the stew, and then finish and eat some other time.

greek fish with lemon and tomatoesGreek Fish with Lemon and Tomatoes

A quick marinade, and a fast pan-fry produces a delicious dinner in a few minutes.  One bowl, one pan, one meal.

 

fish fillet with yogurt sauceIndian Fish Fillet in Yogurt Sauce

Fish with an Indian flair.  It’s flavored with cumin, garam masala, and just a bit of ginger, all bathed in a creamy yogurt sauce.

 

 Pan Fried Tilapia in Lemon Butter Saucepan-fried tilapia with lemon butter sauce

A simple lemon-butter sauce, a pinch of mustard, and a sprinkle of rosemary add a lot of flavor without a lot of effort.  Ready in fifteen minutes.

 




Apple Glazed Ham Steak Recipe for One Person

When it’s late, and you’re hungry, you want something quick. This apple glazed ham steak delivers. And it’s still both delicious and filling.

It was customary, when I was little, to make ham with pineapple. That’s good, but I think this apple version is better. There’s an enzyme in pineapple that breaks down protein and tends to make it a bit mushy.  Plus you have to get a good pineapple, wonder what to do with the rest of it, or settle for canned.

Apples on the other hand, add a touch of sweetness, plus a hint of tartness. It’s less overpoweringly sweet and it complements the salty ham better.

The other good thing about this recipe is that it’s fairly quick. Sauté the ham steak, set it aside, make the apple glaze, and you have dinner in about 15 minutes.

Score! There are more quick dinner recipes at the bottom of the post.

I made this with brandy, but if you don’t have that, apple cider will work too.  For a more intense apple flavor, try it with apple brandy, such as Calvados, or a hard apple cider.

The Brussels sprouts, by the way, are tossed with some olive oil, seasoned with salt and pepper and then roasted.  My new favorite way to eat them!




Apple Glazed Ham Steak Substitutions and Variations

  • skip the cloves and add a bit of tangy mustard
  • try some cinnamon
  • sauté some sweet onions and include them in the sauce (Vidalia onions would work nicely for this)
  • mix up the apples; I used Gala but Granny Smith would add a bit of extra tartness to the recipe and make a nice complement to the ham
  • if you don’t have brandy, use Calvados, or apple cider

More Quick Dinner Recipes

creole cabbage and sausageQuick Creole Cabbage and Sausage

This is a great quick meal when you want food fairly quickly.  It’s also pantry-friendly.  Cabbage lasts a long time in the fridge and the spices are shelf-stable.

 

Polish sausage with cabbage and potatoesOne Pot Polish Sausage and Cabbage with Potatoes

A few basic ingredients that are full of flavor. There are buttery potatoes, braised cabbage, and rich sausage. It’s all made in one pot too.

 

cider braised pork with sauerkraut and applesCider Braised Pork Chop with Sauerkraut and Apples

Apples, pork, and sauerkraut complement each other beautifully. The salty kraut plays off against the sweet apples. This is a classic fall or chilly weather meal.

 

pork tenderloin with mushrooms and sour cream

Pork Tenderloin with Mushrooms and Sour Cream

A rich, creamy sauce boosted by the bite of Dijon mustard and piquant capers —both of which complement the pork beautifully.  And, it’s done in about twenty minutes or so.  The mushrooms are also just about the only thing you have to chop.




Pan-Fried Steak with Mushroom Brandy Cream Sauce

Sure it’s the holiday season, and there are a lot of parties and fancy meals everywhere.  But sometimes (holiday or no) you just want to treat yourself even without a party.  Cooking for one doesn’t have to mean dull and boring.  Pan-fried steak with mushroom brandy cream sauce is rich, creamy, and just slightly indulgent.  The cream is velvety, and the mushrooms add an earthy flavor, while the scallions and garlic bring just a hint of sweetness to the sauce. A funny thing happens to onions and garlic once you sauté them; they transform from spicy to sweet.

All that and it’s still really easy to prepare. You can have a delicious, festive dinner in about twenty minutes.  A big payoff without a lot of work!

I’ve made the sauce with pan-fried steak, but it works just as well with a pork chop or a piece of chicken.  If you make it with a bone-in chicken thigh, start that about 20 minutes before you begin cooking the sauce, as it takes longer to cook than a steak or a pork chop.

If you’re going with the steak, start that at the same time as the sauce. Then take it off the heat and let it rest while you finish preparing the sauce.




I made this with brown jasmine rice and some string beans, but it would work well with potatoes too, or even just some crusty bread to sop up every last bit of the sauce.

Pan-fried Steak with Mushroom Brandy Cream Sauce Substitutions and Variations

  • Use shallots or chopped onions instead of the scallions (I grabbed scallions because I have a pot of them growing in my windowsill)
  • Exchange the brandy for white wine and toss the same sauce with pasta
  • Add nutmeg and serve it over chicken breasts
  • Make more mushrooms and eat them as a side dish

More Steak and Mushroom Recipes

spicy beef noodle soupSpicy Beef Noodle Soup for One

Soup doesn’t have to hard, or time consuming. This one is ready in minutes, with only six ingredients.

 

cold leftover steak saladCold Leftover Steak Salad with Goat Cheese and Red Wine Vinaigrette

Bright, fresh, crispy, and the perfect way to use up leftover steak. And, you can get your veggie servings in at the same time.

chicken mushroom skillet recipeChicken and Mushroom Skillet Recipe

Perfect for a weeknight, this dish is rich with mushroom flavor. No marinating, and no separate sauce pot either. It creates its own sauce right in the skillet.

 

stovetop coq au vinStovetop Coq au Vin Chicken with Red Wine Sauce

A classic French dish updated for busy modern lives. This version needs only one pot and you can make it right on your stovetop.

 

 




Butternut Squash Cream Sauce Recipe for One Person

Nothing quite says fall like butternut squash. This butternut squash cream sauce recipe is great over pasta and makes a delicious change from the usual heavy cream or tomato sauces.  It’s got sweet butternut squash, savory/sweet roasted garlic, and creamy parmesan added just at the end.

First, roast the squash, and the garlic, then pop it in a saucepan with chopped onions and puree the whole thing.  A bit of cream and parmesan gives it a creamy, rich flavor.

I sometimes like to add a bit of bacon or pancetta crumbled on top for an extra bit of salty/savory deliciousness (and besides, bacon!).

I did try to make this as cleanup friendly as possible, but it’s a bit hopeless. There are a lot of pans involved! Luckily, since we’re only making enough for one person, they’re fairly small pans.

There are several pieces of kitchen equipment that are essential for this recipe. The first is good sharp sturdy knife.  It’s got to cut through that peel.  Next is a good peeler. Butternut squash can be hard to peel without one (although you can cheat if you want and get the pre-peeled, cut up cubes in a bag).  And, finally a stick blender (or a regular one, but the stick is easier) to puree the sauce.

I tend to cut off a chunk, peel it, and then cut that up into cubes. It’s easier that way.




Butternut Squash Cream Sauce Recipe Substitutions and Variations

  • Try shallots instead of onions
  • Add some crumbled bacon or pancetta on top
  • Fry a few sage leaves in the butter and use them to garnish the sauce

More Butternut Squash Recipes

curried butternut squash soup with applesCurried Butternut Squash Soup with Apples

The perfect fall soup, flavored with squash, apple cider, and mild curry.  Mmmmmm good.

 

roasted cinnamon nutmeg squashRoasted Cinnamon Nutmeg Butternut Squash

Flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg this is a great autumn side dish. Serve with a simple piece of roast chicken.


butternut squash brown sugar vanilla

Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar and Vanilla

Sure, it looks like a side dish. I mean, squash is a vegetable, right? Nope. It’s dessert (it’s wearing a clever disguise…shhhh).

 

 




Cider Braised Pork Chop with Sauerkraut and Apples

Now that fall has finally arrived, it’s time to start switching light meals and salads for something more substantial. This cider braised pork chop with sauerkraut is full of classic fall flavors, from rich pork, crisp apples and sweet cider. That sweetness is balanced by savory onions, piquant sauerkraut, and just a touch of brown sugar.

It’s great simple comfort food. This is a good dish for a weeknight dinner or even for company. You only need to use one pan, so there’s not a lot of clean up involved. And, after a bit of chopping and slicing it’s ready in about half an hour. Just be careful not to overcook the pork. Put everything together, deglaze the pan, and then cook it gently for 15 or 20 minutes.

There are lots of variations on this idea. Some add bacon. Others roast the pork. I added carrots, but you can also skip the carrots in the main dish and make my honey mustard glazed carrots as a side dish. The sweet honey and the savory mustard complement the pork nicely.




Cider Braised Pork Chop with Sauerkraut Substitutions and Variations

  • Use white wine or chicken broth instead of the cider
  • Replace the carrots with potatoes
  • Add some sausage
  • Saute some bacon in the pan first and cook the pork in the bacon fat instead of the oil
  • If you find commercial sauerkraut too salty, mix in some raw cabbage to cut the salinity.

Pork and Cabbage Recipes

Polish sausage with cabbage and potatoesOne Pot Polish Sausage and Cabbage with Potatoes

An entire meal: meat, potatoes, and veggies all packed into one single bowl (and one cooking pot).

 

creole cabbage and sausageQuick Creole Cabbage and Sausage

Fast, pantry-friendly and delicious. Colorful too, especially if you use red cabbage.  Just add some rice for a full meal.

 

chinese chicken noodle cabbage soup

Chinese Chicken Noodle Cabbage Soup for One Person

Fragrant with garlic, spicy chili, and a hint of sweetness from honey, this Chinese chicken noodle cabbage soup tastes good and knocks out germs too.

 




One Pot Polish Sausage and Cabbage with Potatoes

Fall has finally shown up (at least briefly), so it’s time for hearty comfort food.  This Polish sausage and cabbage with potatoes recipe is both easy to make and filling.  It’s a great meal for a chilly autumn day.  There are only a few basic, everyday ingredients, but it still manages to be packed with flavor from rich sausage,  braised cabbage, buttery Yukon Gold potato, and sweet carrot.

And, as a bonus, you get your entire dinner cooked while only using a single pot. As far as I’m concerned, less cleaning and washing up is always a good thing.

The technique is really simple, and there’s not a lot of fiddling.  Basically, all you have to do to get a delicious dinner is to slice up and brown the sausage, add the veggies and broth, and then let the whole thing simmer slowly in the pot.

It takes less than an hour to make and you don’t have to stand over a hot stove while your dinner cooks.  You can go do something else instead.  For instance, you can pour yourself a glass of red wine and unwind from a long day or make a mug of hot, spiced apple cider.

It’s not fancy, or fussy, just good plain hearty food.

I used a Yukon gold potato, because they have a richer, more buttery flavor.  However, an Eastern potato (or white potato) will work too.  Avoid Russet (Idaho) potatoes, as they are best for baking (OK, I avoid them anyway because I don’t like them; they’re too floury).




Polish Sausage and Cabbage with Potatoes Substitutions and Variations

  • Try using bacon instead of the sausage
  • Swap the sliced potatoes for 4 oz of egg noodles (cook them separately, then add them at the end and toss everything together)
  • Season the dish with some paprika
  • If you’re out of chicken broth, you can use water instead
  • Add some cut up bell pepper

More Sausage Recipes

kielbasa with sauerkraut and applesKielbasa with Sauerkraut and Apples

Sausage, sauerkraut, and apples complement each other beautifully and the honey mustard sauce adds a delightful sweet tangy flavor.  This is pantry-friendly and only requires one pot.

Brazilian chicken paprika stewBrazilian Chicken Paprika Stew

A Brazilian take on Hungarian chicken paprikash. This has lime, sausage, and beans. No sour cream in sight. Plenty of rich, slightly zippy, citrusy flavor though.


lentil bean sausage soupLentil Bean Sausage Soup

A chunky, hearty soup that’s great for colder weather. It’s packed with flavor from ham, sausage, beans, and lentils. Plus a secret ingredient borrowed from Italian grandmas. Simmered slowly to bring out the flavors.


creole cabbage and sausageQuick Creole Cabbage and Sausage

Dinner in minutes, in only a single pan.  Don’t worry about the “fancy” mustard and spice mix. They’re easy to make at home with ingredients you already have.

 




Leftover Roast Lamb Eggplant and Spinach Salad

Hot. Cold. Then hot again. Anyone else getting whiplash from this weather? The calendar says fall, but the thermometer reads summer.  To beat the heat, try a leftover roast lamb eggplant spinach salad.  You can use leftover lamb from my Greek lamb breast recipe, or just broil a lamb chop.

This salad is a festival of tastes, textures, and colors.  You get luscious lamb topped with tender golden-brown eggplant over earthy spinach, refreshing crisp cucumbers, and sweet tomatoes.  Then the whole thing is finished with a rich garlicky lemon mayonnaise.

I’ve sauteed the eggplant in a skillet (because I didn’t want to heat up the oven), but you can grill it if you prefer, or bake it in the oven (400 degrees for about 20 minutes).  Then just add spinach and your favorite salad ingredients.

I have adapted this from a Silver Palate cookbook recipe which called for pignoli nuts and olives.  I had neither, so I filled in with cucumber and tomato. You could also put in mushrooms, sprouts, experiment with different kinds of olives, or top it with toasted nuts.  See the “substitutions” section below for more ideas.

You can either make the mayonnaise from scratch (homemade mayonnaise is divine, just remember to use it up quickly), or just dress up some store-bought mayonnaise with a bit of garlic and lemon juice.  I like to “freshen” up commercially made mayo with lemon and olive oil whenever I use it.  It tastes more like homemade that way.

Have this for a quick dinner, or make it for lunch.  I think of it as an entree salad; it works for any time you want something filling without a lot of fussing (or waiting).




Leftover Roast Lamb Eggplant Spinach Salad Substitutions and Variations

 

  • Top with pignoli nuts, chopped almonds, or chopped walnuts
  • Add 1/4 C feta cheese and some mint
  • Add some sliced apples
  • Make some orzo and add that to the salad
  • Try different veggies like zucchini, bell pepper or squash

More Lamb Recipes for One Person

greek lamb breastGreek Lamb Breast Recipe

Marinate this overnight, then roast it slowly in a low oven to bring out the full flavor.

 

Moroccan lamb stew with almonds and raisinsMoroccan Lamb Stew with Almonds and Raisins

A Jewish-Moroccan recipe fit for a feast. The raisins add sweetness and complement the lamb beautifully.

 

lamb breast provencale with rosemaryOne Person Slow Roasted Lamb Breast Provencal Recipe

Cooked slowly and topped with a mixture of garlic, olive oil, rosemary and bread crumbs.

 

turkish lamb burgerTurkish Lamb Burgers

Meaty, rich lamb burgers stuffed with garlic and salty feta. Served with a cucumber yogurt sauce.  Make the burgers ahead and let the ingredients blend for full flavor.

 




Stovetop Coq au Vin Chicken with Red Wine Sauce

Coq au vin (or rooster in wine) is a classic French dish.  It’s flavorful, it’s rich, and it takes a lot of time and effort to prepare.  First, you season the chicken, let it sit overnight, then brown it, add vegetables, and braise it slowly.  Authentic coq au vin also requires lots of pots,  lardons, which are thick matchstick strips of bacon, glazed pearl onions, croutons, and finally toast points! It takes hours to prepare it properly.  It’s wonderful, but it’s also a major undertaking, and highly impractical for a weekday dinner.  In contrast, this stovetop coq au vin takes about half an hour to make.  Much better!

I have adapted this recipe from Pierre Franey’s 60 Minute Gourmet Cookbook. Being French he called it “Poulet Sauté au Brouilly” (or chicken sautéed in Brouilly wine). I say stovetop coq au vin or chicken with red wine sauce and mushrooms works just fine.

And, once you finish a bit of chopping and browning, stovetop coq au vin mostly cooks itself. You don’t have to fuss with it,  you don’t need to use half the pots in your kitchen, and you don’t have to clean them up either.  This version only requires a single skillet.

When choosing the red wine, look for one that’s fruity and flavorful, but not too tannic.  Wines such as Zinfandel, Brouilly, Beaujolais, or Merlot are fine (I used Merlot).  On the other hand, a Cabernet Sauvignon would be overpowering.




Stovetop Coq au Vin Substitutions and Variations

  • If you want, cook a few strips of bacon and add that to the chicken
  • Make it more colorful with some chopped carrots
  • Try different varieties of mushrooms, or a mixture
  • Use shallots instead of the onion/garlic
  • If you use the bacon, saute the onions/garlic/shallots in the bacon fat

More Chicken Recipes

crispy lemon chicken thighCrispy Lemon Chicken Thigh Recipe for One

Three kinds of lemon, and a smidge of brown sugar add lots of flavor to this chicken. It almost tastes like it’s fried (but it’s not).  Great hot or cold.

 

chicken mango stir fryQuick Chicken Mango Stir Fry Recipe

A freezer-friendly quick dinner. Use frozen mango if you have it. If not, pineapple will do too (since this cooks quickly). Toss in the chicken and veggies, make a quick sauce and you’re done.

homemade chicken shawarma

Homemade Chicken Shawarma with Yogurt Sauce

If you can’t get your favorite Mediterranean takeout, make it yourself.  You don’t need a rotisserie or special equipment either. Just make it right in your oven.

 

chicken with mushrooms and tarragonSingle Serving Chicken Recipe with Tarragon and Mushrooms

A fancy French meal without going out (or paying a lot).  It takes only 30 minutes to make and uses a single pan. I confess even I wanted to lighten up the original recipe (which called for copious amounts of butter and cream). However, this version retains every bit of flavor!




Moussaka Without Bechamel Sauce Recipe

I just love moussaka, but the traditional version is just too much work for one serving. I had a recipe for a Jewish Egyptian version of moussaka without bechamel, (or messa’aa) but the first try needed more tweaking. Back to the drawing board! This version uses more spices, has better flavor, and is much easier to put together.

There’s Middle Eastern flavor from spicy/warm cinnamon and nutmeg, the bite of garlic and onion, tender eggplant, and tomatoes. You can make this either with ground lamb or ground beef (whichever you prefer).

Many of the recipes I saw required first making a tomato sauce, then a meat mixture, then the eggplant, and finally assembling the entire thing together. Too much work and too many pots and pans to clean up.

My way is easier. First salt and fry the eggplant (or broil if you’d prefer), then cook the onion and garlic, add the meat, tomatoes, and seasoning, layer it all together and bake it. Instead of spending hours in the kitchen, you can have dinner ready in about an hour.

Or, make it all ahead of time, up to the point of putting it in the oven.  Then, put the baking dish in the fridge, and cook it when you’re ready. Just take the dish out about fifteen or twenty minutes in advance so that it isn’t ice cold when you put it in the oven. Make a quick salad or some rice and you have dinner.

This recipe is also a product of a bit of advance planning.  The trouble with cooking for one sometimes is that even if you make one serving you still have more ingredients left.  However, a little menu planning can go a long way toward fixing that problem.  You end up with several delicious meals,  a lot less waste, and it’s far more budget friendly too.

For example, this recipe uses the rest of the eggplant from rosemary olive oil broiled eggplant and the remaining crushed tomatoes from tomato artichoke pasta sauce recipe from two weeks ago. I’ve now used up the eggplant and the can of tomatoes. There are more recipes at the bottom of the post to help with the beef.




Moussaka Without Bechamel Sauce Substitutions and Variations

  • Pan fry some almonds in olive oil and add that to the meat mixture in the pan
  • Toss in some raisins
  • Top the moussaka with a mixture of yogurt, garlic cloves, olive oil, salt, and chopped cucumbers (sort of a tzatziki without the dill)
  • Substitute potatoes or zucchini for the eggplant
  • Add some chopped green pepper to the meat mixture

More Eggplant Recipes

eggplant parmesan for oneEggplant Parmesan Recipe for One

A classic Italian favorite featuring tender eggplant, a rich tomato sauce, and gooey, melted mozzarella. And, it’s a lot less work than you may think.

 

vegetarian eggplant sandwich

Vegetarian Eggplant Sandwich for One Person

Repurpose Israeli salad and turn it into a full meal. Just add eggplant, egg, and a pita. Voila!

 

pasta alla norma with eggplantPasta alla Norma with Eggplant

Quick, slightly spicy, and served with a classic caprese salad of tomato, mozzarella, and basil. This dish only takes about 20 minutes to make.

 

rosemary olive oil broiled eggplantRosemary Olive Oil Broiled Eggplant

Eggplant that’s so soft it practically melts in your mouth.  Sprinkled with rosemary and topped with melted parmesan. My cousin made this for me eons ago and I’ve been hooked ever since.

 




Tuna Cannellini Bean Salad Recipe for One

Tuna cannellini bean salad is a great meal for those days when you just don’t feel like “cooking.” Maybe you got home late from work, or you’ve been out running errands all day, or it’s just too hot to fuss.  This meal requires nothing more complicated than opening a few cans, sprinkling some seasonings, and a little bit of chopping. Easy.

Everything comes straight from your pantry.  The beans are canned, the tuna is canned, and the only fresh ingredient you need is some scallions, and maybe the lemon juice. Even that isn’t essential; if you don’t have scallions, use onion instead.  If you’re out of fresh lemons, the bottled juice will do just fine.

If you do have the time and energy, this is a bit better with freshly cooked beans. The canned beans tend to be slightly mushy, and sometimes they’re a little salty.   If you go the dried bean route, use my quick soak method to speed things up.  If not, no harm, no foul.

The recipe is enough for two lunches or one dinner (depending  how hungry you are).  I usually find that I eat a whole 5 oz. can of tuna for lunch if I just make ordinary tuna salad, but adding the beans stretches it enough for two meals.

I’ve adapted it slightly from one of  Pierre Franey’s Sixty Minute Gourmet cookbooks. I reduced the quantity and eliminated the parsley (never had any use for parsley). This is not only better than sixty minutes, it only takes about ten.

Serve with some fresh fruit and you have a fast lunch in under fifteen minutes.  Add crusty bread to that and you have dinner.




Tuna Cannellini Bean Salad Substitutions and Variations

  • add some capers
  • mix in some cherry tomatoes
  • try red onion instead of the scallions
  • serve over romaine lettuce
  • mix some greens (watercress, arugula, or one of those baby greens mixtures) right into the salad

 

More Cannellini Bean Recipes

white bean salad with sun-dried tomatoesWhite Bean Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes

I saw this fancy salad at a store for about $10 a pound. I thought I can make that myself for a lot less. So I did.

 

pasta e fagioli soupPasta e Fagioli Soup (Small Batch)

An Italian classic in a scaled-down version that’s perfect for single person cooking. And it’s nearly entirely pantry ingredients too (just the pancetta, but that will keep in the fridge).

Brazilian chicken paprika stew

Brazilian Chicken Paprika Stew

A Brazilian twist on Hungarian chicken paprikash. This version has beans and sausage, with no sour cream in sight. It’s comforting, filling, and only uses one pot.

 

pork chili verdePork Chili Verde for One

A taste of the Southwest, with a twist. This chili is green (not red), and has lots of green chilis, pork, and garlic.