This easy vermicelli salad with tuna is a delicious kid-friendly meal that is perfect in a lunch box. I love that this noodle salad uses simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. If you want a fun new recipe, this canned tuna pasta recipe is a winner.
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This easy recipe pleases both kids and grownups! You can take it in a lunchbox or make a lunch or dinner out of it at home. If you are looking for easier, kid-friendly Asian meal ideas, you will want to try this Honey Garlic Shrimp.
This twist on a Vietnamese vermicelli noodle salad will become one of your most popular kid-friendly recipes. Kids love noodles, and this tuna salad is gluten free, nut-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and egg-free, making it safe for children with food allergies.
If you love easy noodle recipes as much as we do, you will want to try this delicious kid-approved Stir Fry Gluten Free Beef and Broccoli recipe too!
Allergen Information:
This easy tuna vermicelli noodle salad is gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, and oat-free.
It took me a long time to develop an idea my kids would like in their lunch boxes. Tuna is high in protein, which is really important so our kids don’t crash in the middle of the school day.
What Asian noodles are gluten free?
There are many brands and types of Asian noodles. Most are made with rice or starch. I pictured the mung bean starch noodles I used in this recipe. Here are some others to try:
- Gluten free buckwheat noodles
- Rice vermicelli noodles and rice sticks
- Mung bean vermicelli noodles
- Sweet potato starch vermicelli noodles
- Kelp noodles, also called miracle noodles, have a little bit of an odd texture.
What fish sauce brands are gluten free?
Several fish sauce brands are gluten-free, including Squid (pictured above), Red Boat (available at most grocery stores, Trader Joe’s, and Thai Kitchen). Always double-check the labels to review the ingredients.
Step-By-Step Photos and Directions:
Making this noodle salad is really easy. First, there are many Asian noodles made with different ingredients, such as rice, mung bean, and buckwheat.
I have been using this brand, which I found in my Asian market. These mung bean noodles get soft when cooked but not mushy like some rice noodles can get. You can find a lot of Asian noodles on Amazon as well.
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Step 1: Cook your noodles. It is important to follow the cooking directions for the noodles you have.
Step 2: After they are done, drain in a colander and rinse with cold water. Rinsing your vermicelli noodles in cold water stops cooking and helps prevent the noodles from turning to mush.
Step 3: Add grated carrot, greens, cucumber, and purple cabbage to a large bowl.
Feel free to use any vegetables you have on hand. This recipe would work with cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, and snow peas!
Step 4: Add a drained can of tuna or two single-serve pouches packed in water to a large
Step 5: Add the chilled noodles to the bowl and toss everything together. The flavor gets better as it sits. I like refrigerating the salad for 30-60 minutes before eating it.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Most canned tuna is gluten free. That being said, always check the ingredients, just in case. You never know when a brand will change the ingredients in a product.
Although you can use any tuna, I do not recommend tuna packed in oil because it can make this recipe somewhat oily.
Store in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Mix in the sauce and noodles for an instant lunch box hit. If you enjoy Vietnamese foods, try these Rice Paper Rolls too.
More recipes that use pantry staples:
- This Tuna Panini is a delicious hot sandwich full of melty cheese. Uses canned tuna.
- If you need an easy breakfast, it doesn’t get any easier than this Apple Crisp Overnight Oats recipe. Uses gluten free oats and chia seeds.
- Gluten Free Rice and Beans are a great filling budget meal.
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Vietnamese Tuna Noodle Salad
Ingredients
Method
- In a large bowl, combine 1 5 ounce tuna packed in water, 1 cup shredded carrots, 1 cup shredded purple cabbage, 2 cups greens, and cooked 1 in package vermicelli noodles.
- In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons gluten free fish sauce, 1/4 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon unseasoned gluten free rice vinegar, 1 clove minced garlic, 2 tablespoons lime juice, and 2 tablespoons of honey. Whisk.
- Pour the sauce into the large bowl and toss all ingredients to coat.
- Serve with a lime wedge.
Nutrition
Notes
- Note that you can use rice noodles, buckwheat, mung bean, sweet potato starch, or any Asian noodles with this recipe.
- You can use more tuna if you prefer.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
(This post was updated from an older July 2016 post.)
Will the noodles get hard by the time lunch rolls around?
Ours don;t get hard, but it is important to use enough of the sauce so they stay soft.
Thank you Janelle!