Tuna Pasta Salad
Tuna pasta salad is the perfect solution when you need a quick, light, and filling meal without compromising on flavor. Whether you’re looking for a meal prep idea for the week, something simple for a picnic, or a side dish for larger gatherings, this salad never fails to impress. In addition to being easy to prepare, it can be customized to suit various tastes and preferences.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED:
Pasta: You can use any shape you prefer, but in my opinion, smaller shapes like Rotini, Gemelli, Cavatappi, or Penne work best. They mix well with all the ingredients, don’t absorb too much dressing, and stay flavorful, ensuring you don’t need to adjust the salad later.
Mayonnaise
Yogurt plain or Greek.
Mustard
Cherry tomatoes
Red onion
Pickles
Canned tuna
Chives chopped for garnish
Salt and Pepper to taste
HOW TO MAKE TUNA PASTA SALAD:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, yogurt, and Dijon mustard until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Add the cooled pasta, tuna, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and pickles to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently until everything is well coated.
4. For the best flavor, let the salad chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Just before serving, garnish with chopped chives.
OPTIONS AND VARIATIONS:
While the classic tuna pasta salad is already delicious, here are a few variations to suit different tastes and dietary preferences:
Mediterranean Tuna Pasta Salad
Swap out the mayo for olive oil, and toss in some feta cheese, Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and cucumbers. Add a squeeze of lemon juice for a Mediterranean flair.
Avocado Tuna Pasta Salad
Replace some or all of the mayonnaise with mashed avocado for a creamy, heart-healthy alternative. Add cilantro and a dash of lime juice.
Pesto Tuna Pasta Salad
Toss your pasta with a few spoonful of basil pesto instead of mayonnaise. This will give your salad a fragrant, herbal flavor that pairs perfectly with tuna. Add cherry tomatoes and pine nuts for extra crunch and flavor.
Tuna Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 250 g ( 2 cups) Pasta of your choice
- 120 g (1/2 cup) Mayonnaise
- 120g (1/2 cup) Yogurt
- 200 g ( 7 oz,) Cherry Tomatoes
- 1 Red Onion, chopped
- 100 g ( ⅓ cup) Pickles, chopped
- 2 cans (about 300g) Tuna, drained
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Chives to garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, yogurt, and Dijon mustard until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the cooled pasta, tuna, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and pickles to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently until everything is well coated.
- For the best flavor, let the salad chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Just before serving, garnish with chopped chives.