Lemony Tuna Pasta Salad (Printable)

Bright tuna pasta with lemon, herbs, and sweet peas. Quick, refreshing, and perfect for any meal.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

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

→ Salad Components

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 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
08 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
09 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
11 - 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste

→ Optional Additions

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

# How-To Steps:

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 using. Taste and adjust seasoning with more lemon juice, salt, or pepper if desired.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days. Garnish with extra herbs before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The lemon zest wakes everything up without being harsh or acidic
  • It keeps beautifully for days making it perfect for meal prep lunches
  • Canned tuna makes it affordable but the fresh herbs make it feel fancy
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta under cold water immediately after draining or it will keep cooking and get mushy
  • The salad needs at least 30 minutes in the fridge for the flavors to really meld together
  • Add the fresh herbs right before serving leftovers or they will wilt and look sad
03 -
  • Use a microplane or fine grater for the lemon zest to avoid bitter white pith
  • Let the salad come to room temperature for 20 minutes before serving leftovers
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