Description

This tuna pasta salad features a zesty harissa-lime dressing for a smoky twist on a classic comfort food, perfect for quick weeknight dinners and meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale

10.5 oz short pasta, such as fusilli or rotini
2 cans (5 oz each) tuna in water, drained well
2 celery stalks, finely diced
0.5 small red onion, finely diced
0.5 yellow bell pepper, finely diced
0.75 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons harissa paste
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
0.5 teaspoon fine sea salt
0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water to cool completely.
Prepare Ingredients: While pasta cooks, finely dice celery, red onion, and yellow bell pepper. Drain tuna well, pressing out excess water, then flake with a fork.
Make Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, harissa paste, lime juice, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, flaked tuna, diced vegetables, and dressing. Gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
Chill Salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. If the salad appears too dry after chilling, add extra mayonnaise or lime juice to restore creaminess.
Garnish and Serve: Stir gently before serving and garnish generously with fresh chopped cilantro.

Notes

To lighten the recipe, substitute plain Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise. For a different texture, replace the bell pepper with frozen peas. Chilling for several hours or overnight deepens the flavors, making this recipe ideal for meal prepping.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Mixing
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1.5 cups (300 g)
Calories: 550 calories
Sugar: 4 g
Sodium: 750 mg
Fat: 20 g
Saturated Fat: 3 g
Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 53 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 26 g
Cholesterol: 20 mg

Keywords: tuna pasta salad, harissa dressing, easy recipe, quick dinner, meal prep, smoky, spicy, creamy, weeknight meal