Name: Mediterranean Tuna Pasta Salad Nicoise
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 200g / 7 oz short shaped pasta; 2 boiled eggs (cut into quarters); 100g / 3½ oz green beans (cut in half); 1 cup marinated artichokes (cut into quarters); 150g / 5 oz good quality canned tuna in olive oil; 1/4 cup kalamata olives; 150g / 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved); 60g / 2 cups baby spinach; 1 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped); 2 anchovies (optional); 1 clove garlic; 2 tbsp white wine vinegar; 5 tbsp olive oil (use the oil the tuna was packed in); 1/2 tsp salt

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Part of you is craving a potluck-style creamy pasta salad and part of you is feeling French and fancy. What do you do? Combine the two for a sumptuous Mediterranean tuna pasta salad Nicoise. It’s a mouthful in more ways than one! Packed with flavoursome and fresh ingredients, and ready in 20 minutes, why wouldn’t you?

So, it’s not salad weather where you are? This oven-baked tuna noodle casserole ticks some of the tangy tuna pasta boxes.

Top down shot of Nicoise pasta salad on a serving platter

If I had to choose one meal to eat for the rest of my life, it would be some kind of tuna salad; chickpea tuna salad, tuna macaroni salad, Italian tuna and white bean salad, Mediterranean tuna pasta salad… Let me tell you why.

First, a tuna salad can contain so many ingredients and standout flavours it would never get boring. Take this Mediterranean pasta salad for example, it has two types of fish, eggs, bright vegetables, briny olives, chewy pasta, herbs and tangy dressing.

Second, it is brimming with nutrition so you would never lack any vital nutrients. Protein from tuna and eggs, sustaining carbs from pasta, vitamins and iron from spinach and tomatoes, fibre from green beans, healthy fats from olive oil and anchovies… You get the picture!

Third, it’s incredibly easy to put together and requires minimal effort. But now, I think of it, if I only ate salad, I’d really miss my oven!

Luckily, it was just a hypothetical situation. Phew!

Close up of pasta salad with tuna, olives and tomatoes

Mediterranean pasta salad

In developing this Mediterranean tuna pasta salad, I cherry-picked from two of my favourite salad recipes: Green Goddess Pasta Salad and traditional Tuna Salad Nicoise. The result is a mega-fortifying, highly nutritious, epically flavoured tuna pasta salad combo.

Salade Nicoise is a French salad that comes from the city of Nice on the French Riviera, southern France. So, as you might expect it is a dish that brings together some of the produce from the region; fish, garlic olive oil, tomatoes, potatoes.

From the Nicoise salad, I took green beans, tuna and eggs, but held the potatoes.

From Green Goddess, I took pasta and some salad ingredients shared with Nicoise; olives, artichokes, cherry tomatoes. And held the dairy, making this a dairy and mayo-free recipe.

Both original recipes contain anchovies.

Yes, I said the A-word. But hear me out. Unlike a traditional Nicoise salad, where the anchovies are served whole, I’ve incorporated them into the dressing, like in a Green Goddess sauce. I love anchovies and I’m on a bit of a one-woman mission to turn their rep around!

So, here’s the deal. In this tuna salad dressing, I’ve used two skinny anchovies for their salty, umami flavour. They are blended seamlessly into the sauce (you wouldn’t even know they were there!) and give a slick and unctuous texture not to be missed! It really does make the salad. Trust me and give it a try!

Important recipe tips and notes

Choose short-shaped pasta for this recipe. I’ve used frilly campanelle, but reliable This is an affiliate link.macaroni will do just as well.
I prefer a dark leaf in tuna pasta salad and have gone for spinach rather than the lettuce found in the traditional French salad.
Speaking of authenticity, marinated artichokes are what the French add, not green beans!
But I’ve kept those in too for a bonus fibre hit.
And anchovies. Sorry, but there’s no escaping them in a Nicoise salad. If you find a whole one too hard to swallow, follow my lead and emulsify them into the dressing.

Process shots of veg being prepped and mixed with salad

What goes with it

With eggs, tuna, pasta and vegetables all making an appearance in this all-in-one salad, there is little need for anything else! Having said that, I would never turn down a crusty baguette and a ripe French cheese.

Storage and leftovers

Leftover tuna noodle salad can be stored in an This is an affiliate link.airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. However, if you are planning on getting ahead and prepping the dish a day early, I suggest preparing all the ingredients bar the pasta and adding that in on the day of eating.