Tuna and Veggie Pasta Salad (Parve)

By
Giora Shimoni
Giora Shimoni
A kosher food enthusiast and home cook with hundreds of published recipes, Giora Shimoni has worked in online publishing for over 20 years.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/28/22
Tuna and Veggie Pasta Salad (Parve)

The Spruce / Qi Ai

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

Tuna pasta salad is a potluck and picnic classic, and this one ups the game with the addition of crisp blanched broccoli, juicy cherry tomatoes, olives and scallions. This colorful, one-dish meal is also ideal for a quick, kid-friendly supper on a busy night, or for toting along in packed lunches.

Look forward to that packed lunch by pairing this tuna pasta combo with a delicious salad. Iced tea and fresh strawberries are ideal go-withs, too. 

Ingredients

For the Salad:

  • 8 ounces (227 grams) rotini pasta, or fusilli pasta

  • 2 cups small fresh broccoli florets

  • 2 (5-ounce) cans water-packed tuna, drained

  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, or grape tomatoes, halved

  • 3/4 cup sliced black or green olives

  • 3 medium scallions, white and light green parts only, sliced crosswise

For the Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup (115 milliliters) mayonnaise

  • 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, or rice vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, optional

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Tuna and Veggie Pasta Salad (Parve) ingredients

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  2. Cook pasta according to package directions in boiling salted water.

    pasta cooking in a pot

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  3. For the last minute of cooking, add the broccoli florets.

    broccoli and pasta in a pot with water

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  4. Drain noodles and broccoli.

    noodles and broccoli in a pot, removed with spoon

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  5. Rinse immediately under very cold running water and drain well.

    pasta and broccoli in a colander

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  6. In a large bowl, combine the pasta and broccoli with the tuna, tomatoes, olives, and scallions.

    combine the pasta and broccoli with the tuna, tomatoes, olives, and scallions in a bowl

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  7. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, olive oil, vinegar, mustard (if using), salt and pepper.

    mayonnaise, olive oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper in a bowl

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  8. Beat with a whisk for a creamy-textured dressing.

    dressing in a bowl

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  9. Just before serving, pour dressing over tuna-pasta salad and mix well.

    Tuna and Veggie Pasta Salad (Parve) in a bowl

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

Variations

  • Want to make the recipe more wholesome? Try swapping regular pasta for whole wheat. Between the veggies, tuna, and dressing, there are lots of complementary flavors and textures in the dish to help whole-grain newbies get acclimated to the change. 
  • Not a fan of mayo-based dressings? Skip it and toss the salad with a fruity extra virgin olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste. Season with freshly cracked black pepper and a pinch of coarse sea salt, if desired. 


Tip

  • Tuna and mayo are both pretty perishable, so if you're sending this to work or school, be sure to pack the refrigerated salad in a thermos to keep it safely cool until lunchtime.
  • Transporting it to a picnic or potluck? A well-insulated cooler bag with plenty of ice packs is a good bet.


Nutrition Facts (per serving)
402 Calories
29g Fat
18g Carbs
18g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 402
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g 37%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 32mg 11%
Sodium 971mg 42%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 18g
Vitamin C 39mg 193%
Calcium 56mg 4%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 401mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)