Tuna Pasta Salad

Tuna pasta salad: Versatile and tasty braai day side dish

Whether you want a great braai side or cooking for lunch hour, this tuna pasta salad is for you. It’s creamy, meaty and very tasty.

Tuna Pasta Salad

Weekends in South Africa were made for inviting your friends and family over for a braai. Even though the meat on the fire is the hero, great sides make a big difference to the experience. There’s one side that at least one person loves more than the rest and it’s a pasta salad. A great pasta salad, usually served cold, has lots of colour from the vegetables, sometimes has a protein and some curly pasta. This tuna pasta salad has it all.

Tuna pasta salad suggestions

There’s barely any cooking involved and the pasta shouldn’t take too long. Your pasta salad can be made the day before, making your braai day cooking much easier. This tasty salad is also great for a lunch meal during your busy work day and keeps well in the fridge, so you can keep a few das’ worth in there. Adding some curry powder into your dressing can also add a different element and if you want something similar but very different, try the basil pesto pasta salad we’ve published before.

ALSO READ: Basil pesto pasta salad

Whether you want a great braai side or cooking for lunch hour, this tuna pasta salad is for you. It’s creamy, meaty and very tasty.

Last updated on 12 January 2023

Tuna pasta salad recipe

5 from 2 votes
Recipe by Jessica Alberts Course: Lunch, SideCuisine: GlobalDifficulty: Easy
Servings

6

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

8

minutes
Total time

18

minutes

Ingredients

  • 250 g 250 pasta of choice

  • ½ cup ½ cheddar cheese, cut into cubes

  • 4 4 gherkins, diced

  • 1 1 apple, cored and cut into small cubes

  • 1 1 red pepper, cut into small cubes

  • 1 tin 1 tuna, drained

  • ½ cup ½ dried cranberries or raisins

  • For the dressing
  • ½ cup ½ mayonnaise

  • ½ cup ½ plain yoghurt

  • 2 tsp 2 Dijon mustard

  • freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • ½ tsp ½ salt

  • 1 tsp 1 lemon pepper

Method

  • Boil water in a pot. Add the pasta and cook accordingly to the packet instructions (approximately 8 minutes).
  • While the pasta is cooking, chop the red pepper, gherkins, apple and cheese into bite-size pieces.
  • Remove the pasta from the heat and drain. Rinse under cold water.
  • Make the dressing in a small bowl by combining the mayonnaise, yoghurt and Dijon mustard. Add a squeeze of lemon juice, salt and lemon pepper.
  • In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta, tin of tuna and chopped salad ingredients. Add the dressing and mix well until combined.
  • Top with cranberries / raisins.

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Looking for more tasty braai day recipes to prepare for your family and friends? Just have a look at our recipe page, we have excellent suggestions for you to try.

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