Tuna Pasta Salad • Kath Eats

This tuna pasta salad is a scrumptious mixture of purple bell pepper, capers, and a creamy yogurt dressing, brightened with contemporary herbs and lemon.

Earlier than I found our Cook dinner As soon as, Eat Twice meal plan, I used to eat a number of leftovers for lunches. However then we realized that leftovers have been higher repurposed for dinner, that means we solely needed to cook dinner half of the nights of the week. As soon as the leftovers shifted again to the night meal, I needed to get extra artistic with my lunches! 

This was a simple downside to resolve, nevertheless, I as a result of I believe that lunches are a lot simpler to toss collectively than dinners are to arrange, a minimum of in our home. 

Make-ahead salads clear up the lunch conundrum 

Whereas I’m not an enormous prep day particular person, I do like to make one giant recipe that may carry my lunches by means of the week. I’ve finished prep day kale salads and grain salads like this citrus curry farro salad. And this season I’ve been on a kick of pasta salad recipes (see additionally dill pickle pasta salad and taco pasta salad!) 

Pasta salads aren’t all the time excessive on the protein chart, which is why I added some tuna. Canned salmon would work completely right here too! Assume tuna noodle casserole meets creamy tuna salad! Plus herbs, purple peppers, capers, and plenty of lemon. 

Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe

This tuna pasta salad recipe is SO simple to toss collectively and could be made largely from elements within the fridge and pantry. I used elbow macaroni as a nod to casseroles, and two cans of flaked albacore tuna. The tuna packs within the protein! I all the time search for sustainably caught tuna – the MSC seal is an effective indicator. Wild Planet model and Entire Meals model are each sustainably caught. 

The toughest a part of this recipe is boiling water.

And since a watched pot by no means boils, you’ll be able to prep your veggies whilst you warmth the water. Drain the pasta, make the dressing, and toss all of it collectively. Straightforward peasy. 

Substances

Lemon zest is vital to the dish’s vivid taste, and I additionally used a handful of herbs from our herb backyard: parsley, dill, and basil. Use no matter mixture of herbs you may have, or simply choose your favourite and go all in. I used a purple bell pepper as a result of we all the time have one available, however frozen peas or corn – or contemporary summer time corn lower off the cob – can be nice. Chopped celery and even purple onion (!) would add crunch. You can too add in some shredded or diced sharp cheddar cheese or crumbled feta. Olives can be a pleasant Mediterranean addition to go along with the capers, too! 

• Elbow macaroni – or you need to use any pasta form you want
• Albacore tuna – or swap in salmon or chunk mild tuna when you favor
• Crimson bell pepper – or the equal quantity of veggies of your alternative
• Herbs – any combine you want. I used parsley, basil, and dill. Child spinach works too! 
• Capers – love them! Go away them out when you don’t, or swap in chopped olives. 

For the dressing

• Full-fat Greek yogurt – my go-to in pasta salads to maintain the saturated fats at bay and protein excessive with numerous creamy texture
• Duke’s mayonnaise – in accordance with my husband, no different mayonnaise is actual
• Lemon – zested and juiced
• Salt and pepper – naturally

How To Make This Tuna Pasta Salad

Cook dinner the pasta

Warmth a big pot of salted water to boiling. Cook dinner the pasta till al dente in accordance with the package deal directions. Drain and rinse with chilly water. Return pasta to pot or a big mixing bowl.

Prep the elements

In the meantime, chop the bell pepper and herbs. Drain the capers. Zest and juice lemon. I like lemon zest and use it every time I take advantage of a lemon! I then flip over my microplane and use it to catch the lemon seeds whereas squeezing out the juice. My lemon yielded about 1.5 tbsp zest and three tbsp juice.

Prep the tuna

Drain tuna and flake with a fork.

Make the dressing

Mix yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a bowl and whisk to mix.

Combine pasta salad collectively

Add chopped pepper, herbs, and capers to the cooked pasta. Then add the tuna. Stir to combine.

Stir within the dressing

Add 3/4 of the dressing to the pasta and stir till mixed. Add remainder of dressing, if desired.

Serve

Function a facet dish at a picnic or as a predominant course for lunch or a lighter dinner. 

Retailer

Retailer within the fridge in an hermetic container for a number of days. It’s possible you’ll need to freshen it up with a squeeze of lemon juice or further yogurt dressing because the pasta will progressively soak up the dressing. 

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