Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad with Peas
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cook and Cool Your Pasta 🌾💧
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
- Add your 1 lb of pasta and cook according to the package instructions until it reaches al dente (tender but with a slight bite).
- Drain the pasta in a colander and immediately rinse it under ice-cold water. (Rinsing stops the cooking process instantly and washes away excess starch, keeping your pasta from getting sticky or mushy in the salad!) Let it drain completely.
Step 2: Whisk Up the Dreamy Dressing 🥣✨
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the 1 cup of mayonnaise, ½ cup of sour cream, 1 tbsp of lemon juice, and 1 tbsp of Dijon mustard.
- Whisk in the garlic powder, chopped fresh dill, a pinch of salt, and a generous amount of cracked black pepper until the dressing is completely smooth and uniform. Take a quick taste and adjust the salt or pepper to your liking!
Step 3: Combine Your Ingredients 🐟🧅
- In a large serving bowl, add your cooled, drained pasta.
- Add the 2 cans of drained, flaked tuna, 1 cup of thawed sweet peas, diced celery, and chopped onion.
- Pour your creamy homemade dressing directly over the salad ingredients.
Step 4: Toss and Meld 🔄🥗
- Using a large rubber spatula or wooden spoons, gently toss everything together until every noodle and vegetable is completely coated in the creamy dressing. Be careful not to smash the peas or over-break the tuna chunks!
- Taste one more time to check if it needs an extra squeeze of lemon juice or a pinch of salt.
