Use Up the Greens - Tuna Pesto Pasta Salad

By this time of the year, it’s exciting to finally get tomatoes, peppers, and other late summer vegetables. But those greens . . . they keep coming! And if you’re like me, you have probably already used your favorite greens recipes and NOW in addition the herbs are going crazy!
This Tuna Pesto Pasta Salad is one way to use up whatever greens you have on hand. Several years ago I took a cooking with greens class and learned the trick about adding chopped kale, Swiss chard, or spinach to the last few minutes of boiling pasta. I’ve discovered that adding pesto complements the tuna flavor making this a complete meal that is a snap to throw together.
The recipe below doesn’t include directions for making the pesto, but you can use your favorite recipe OR use the handy formula provided below to use any herbs that you might have on hand. Watching carbs? I recently tried Ezekiel sprouted pasta and it wasn’t bad. You could also use up even more vegetables by making zucchini noodles.
TUNA PESTO PASTA SALAD
Created by Wendy Hammond on July 29, 2016
Category: Main Dish, Salads
INGREDIENTS
1 can tuna
1 box pasta
1 bunch kale
1 batch pesto
INSTRUCTIONS
Cook pasta according to package directions. During last 5 minutes of boiling, add the chopped kale.
Drain and let cool.
Meanwhile, make your pesto (if making from scratch).
Add tuna and pesto and mix well.

You can pick up in-season vegetables from Groundswell at the following markets:
Fulton St. Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8am to 1:30pm@ the north end of the market
1147 East Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
The market is located a half block west of the corner of Fulton and Fuller Streets east of downtown. They are the end stall on the North end, near Fountain St.

Holland Farmers’ Market, Saturdays, 8am to ~1:30pm, May 17th to November
150 W. 8 th St.,Holland, MI 49423
They are usually near the west end of the market, about 8 stalls in on the north side of the aisle.

South Haven Farm Market, Saturdays, 8am – 2pm, Mid-May to mid-October
546 Phoenix St, S Haven, MI 49090, Grand Haven Farmers Market
Saturdays, 8am-1pm

Grand Haven Farmer’s Market, Saturdays, 8am to 2pm, Mid-May to late October
301 N Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417

What vegetables are you enjoying these days? Comment below!