A bright and refreshing pasta salad with canned tuna, zesty lemon, fresh herbs, and sweet peas. Ideal for picnics and light meals.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 9 oz short pasta such as fusilli, penne, or bowties
02 - Salt for boiling water
→ Salad
03 - 1 cup frozen peas
04 - 2 cans tuna in olive oil, 5 oz each, 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
# Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. During the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the frozen peas to the boiling water. Drain pasta and peas together, then rinse under cold water to cool quickly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained tuna, diced red onion, chopped parsley, chopped dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix gently to distribute flavors evenly.
03 - Add the cooled pasta and peas to the bowl with the tuna mixture. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss gently to coat all ingredients uniformly.
04 - Stir in capers and cherry tomatoes if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional lemon juice, salt, or pepper to achieve desired balance.
05 - Serve immediately at room temperature or refrigerate for up to 2 days. Garnish with fresh herbs before serving.
