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Quick Mackerel Pasta Salad: Easy 15-Minute Recipe

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A quick and easy mackerel pasta salad ready in 15 minutes, made with pantry-friendly ingredients. Perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or a crowd-pleasing potluck dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 can mackerel (packed in olive oil or brine), drained
  • 8 oz short pasta (fusilli, rotini, or penne)
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup celery, diced
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional: capers, cherry tomatoes (halved), arugula

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Dice celery and thinly slice red onion while waiting.
  2. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Stir occasionally.
  3. While pasta cooks, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl to make the dressing.
  4. Drain pasta and rinse briefly with cool water. Shake off excess water.
  5. Add warm pasta to the bowl with dressing and toss well to coat.
  6. Open the can of mackerel, drain thoroughly, and pat dry with paper towels. Flake into large pieces with a fork.
  7. Add flaked mackerel, diced celery, and sliced red onion to the bowl. Toss gently to combine.
  8. Fold in chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning with more lemon, salt, or pepper as needed.
  9. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
  10. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Garnish with extra parsley and lemon wedges if desired.

Notes

Don’t overcook the pasta; al dente is key. Drain mackerel well to avoid an oily salad. Let pasta cool slightly before adding fish. Taste and adjust seasoning as you go. Make extra dressing to refresh leftovers.

Nutrition

Keywords: mackerel pasta salad, quick pasta salad, 15-minute recipe, canned mackerel, easy dinner, meal prep, healthy pasta salad

Find it online: https://bouncybowl.com/quick-mackerel-pasta-salad-easy-15-minute-recipe/