I have to tell you, I did not expect to like this.

I’ve always hated regular canned tuna. My mother would stir it into a salad with mayonnaise, chopped celery and onions, with buttery crackers for scooping it up. Many children (and adults) would have loved such a snack. I thought it tasted like cat food…not that I knew what cat food tasted like.

Then several months ago, a friend, whose taste in food I trust, suggested I try Italian-style tuna packed in olive oil. He claimed it was much more delicious than the yucky, water-packed albacore of my youth. I still wasn’t sure, but then Italian food Godmother Marcella Hazan went and backed his claim up, at which point I was convinced enough to at least try it.

And I must say—I’m glad I did. The oil-packed tuna, which I found at Trader Joe’s did taste better than I remembered the water-packed kind tasting. The fresh, non-creamy additions to the salad made for a light but very filling, protein-packed lunch. Feel free to experiment with different herbs and vegetables.