Lemony Tuna Pasta Salad (Printer-friendly)

A vibrant pasta salad combining flaked tuna, zesty lemon, fresh herbs, and peas. Light, fresh, and perfect for any occasion.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz short pasta (fusilli, penne, or bowties)
02 - Salt for boiling water

→ Salad

03 - 1 cup frozen peas
04 - 2 cans (5 oz each) tuna in olive oil, drained and flaked
05 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
06 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
08 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
09 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste

→ Optional Additions

12 - 1/4 cup capers, rinsed and drained
13 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. In the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the peas to the boiling water. Drain pasta and peas, then rinse under cold water to cool quickly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained tuna, red onion, parsley, dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
03 - Add the cooled pasta and peas to the bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss gently to combine.
04 - Stir in capers and cherry tomatoes if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning with more lemon juice, salt, or pepper if needed.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days. Garnish with extra herbs before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The lemon wakes up every single ingredient making ordinary canned tuna taste like something from a fancy Italian market
  • It travels beautifully and actually tastes better the next day after the flavors have had time to mingle
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta with cold water is not optional it stops the cooking process and washes away excess starch that would otherwise make the salad gummy
  • The salad will seem a bit dry when you first toss it but the pasta will absorb some of the dressing as it sits so do not be tempted to add more oil right away
03 -
  • Drain the tuna really well and use a fork to flake it into small bite sized pieces so it distributes evenly throughout the salad
  • If you know you are serving this later wait to add the fresh herbs until just before serving so they stay bright and perky
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