Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato, Tuna & Pea Pasta Salad

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Serve this healthy pasta salad at your next barbecue or backyard get-together. A garlicky buttermilk dressing adds creaminess, while sun-dried tomatoes provide a nice chewiness. Look for sun-dried tomatoes that are not packed in oil.

By
Sophie Johnson
Sophie Johnson
Sophie Johnson
Sophie Johnson is EatingWell's Senior Social Media Editor. A die-hard food lover and obsessed with all things social, she is responsible for managing EatingWell's Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts. When she's not hunting for the latest Whipped Coffee, you'll find her mixing up whiskey sours in her kitchen, reading cookbooks cover-to-cover or out running around Vermont with her Newfypoo, Augustus.
EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines
Updated on September 20, 2023
Reviewed by Dietitian
Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD
Emily Lachtrupp Headshot
Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston.

EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines
Tested by
EatingWell Test Kitchen
Eating Well Bio Page
Tested by EatingWell Test Kitchen

The EatingWell Test Kitchen is comprised of a group of culinary professionals who develop and test our recipes. Our recipes go through a rigorous process, which includes testing by trained recipe testers, using different equipment (e.g., gas and electric stoves) and a variety of tools and techniques to make sure that it will really work when you make it at home. Testers shop major supermarkets to research availability of ingredients. Finally, a Registered Dietitian reviews each recipe to ensure that we deliver food that's not only delicious, but adheres to our nutrition guidelines as well. Learn more about our food philosophy and nutrition parameters.

Meet the EatingWell Test Kitchen
a bowl of sun-dried tomato, tuna and pea pasta salad
Photo: Jen Causey
Active Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
40 mins
Servings:
12
Nutrition Profile:
Diabetes-Friendly Nut-Free Soy-Free High-Protein
Jump to Nutrition Facts
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole-wheat elbows

  • 2 cups peas

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • ½ cup buttermilk

  • ¼ cup low-fat mayonnaise

  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or 1 tablespoon dried

  • 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

  • 2 cups diced summer squash

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

  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • ½ cup slivered soft sun-dried tomatoes (not oil-packed)

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta; cook according to package directions. During the last minute of cooking, add peas.

  2. Meanwhile, place garlic in a medium bowl; sprinkle with salt and mash with the back of a fork into a chunky paste. Add buttermilk, mayonnaise, chives and vinegar; whisk until combined.

  3. Drain the pasta and peas and transfer to a large bowl. Add half the dressing and toss to combine. Cool to room temperature, tossing occasionally, about 10 minutes.

  4. Add summer squash, tuna, Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes and the remaining dressing to the pasta mixture; mix until well combined.

To make ahead

Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, June 2022

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

148 Calories
4g Fat
20g Carbs
9g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Serving Size 2/3 cup
Calories 148
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 9g 18%
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Vitamin A 593IU 12%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Vitamin D 17IU 4%
Folate 20mcg 5%
Vitamin K 17mcg 14%
Sodium 244mg 11%
Calcium 73mg 6%
Iron 2mg 11%
Magnesium 17mg 4%
Potassium 219mg 5%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Updated by
Sean Brady Kenniff
Sean Kenniff
Sean Brady Kenniff

Sean Brady Kenniff is a Brooklyn-based food writer and Culinary Institute of America-trained cook. He was editor of Art Culinaire Magazine and StarChefs before joining the EatingWell team at Dotdash Meredith as senior digital food editor in 2021. Sean's favorite meal is his mother's Sunday gravy, particularly over long fusilli, and his preferred cocktails are a gin martini, up with a twist, and a cognac stinger. He dislikes fiddlehead ferns but thinks they're pretty. He loves restaurants and restaurant people. He is from New Jersey.

EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines

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