Description
A light and nutritious pasta salad featuring wholemeal penne, tender tuna, and a tangy yogurt-mustard dressing, enhanced with fresh red peppers, sweetcorn, and aromatic basil. Perfect as a healthy lunch, picnic snack, or make-ahead meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 250g wholemeal penne
Dressing
- 240g bio yogurt
- 2 tsp English mustard powder
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- handful of basil leaves, finely chopped
Salad Additions
- 320g tuna in spring water
- 2 red peppers, deseeded and diced
- 340g can sweetcorn, drained
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the wholemeal penne, and cook for about 10 minutes until al dente. Drain the pasta and immediately rinse under cold running water to cool it down, then drain thoroughly again.
- Prepare the dressing: In a large bowl, combine the bio yogurt, English mustard powder, extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, finely chopped red onion, and chopped basil leaves. Mix well to create a smooth, tangy dressing.
- Combine salad ingredients: Add the drained tuna, diced red peppers, and drained sweetcorn into the dressing bowl. Gently stir to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Mix pasta and salad: Add the cooled wholemeal penne to the bowl with the dressing and other ingredients. Toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated with the dressing and ingredients are well distributed.
- Serve or store: Serve the pasta salad immediately in bowls for a fresh meal or pack into containers for work or a picnic. This salad can be stored covered in the refrigerator and is best enjoyed the next day.
Notes
- Rinsing the pasta under cold water stops the cooking process and helps the salad stay fresh and cool.
- This pasta salad can be prepared a day ahead to allow flavors to meld wonderfully.
- Use bio (organic) yogurt for a healthier and creamier texture.
- Feel free to substitute sweetcorn with peas or chopped cucumber for variation.
- Keep the salad refrigerated if not consuming immediately to maintain freshness and food safety.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: pasta salad, tuna salad, healthy lunch, wholemeal penne, yogurt dressing, picnic food, easy recipe
