Dairy Free Cilantro-Lime Whole Wheat Pasta with Tuna & Tomatoes

Total time35 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time20 min

Dairy Free Cilantro-Lime Whole Wheat Pasta with Tuna & Tomatoes

Checking the ingredient list, there's nothing here that runs afoul of a dairy free kitchen — no butter, cream, milk, or cheese in sight. This weeknight pasta gets all its brightness from good olive oil, sliced garlic, and a big pile of blistered cherry tomatoes, with flaked tuna adding heft and protein straight from the can. A finishing hit of lime zest, fresh lime juice, and chopped cilantro keeps everything tasting light and zippy rather than heavy, and that reserved starchy pasta water is what pulls the sauce together into something silky without any cream needed. Pile it into bowls with sliced avocado and extra lime wedges on the side for a dish that's satisfying, fast, and easy to love. It's a genuinely solid pick for a dairy free dinner rotation, no asterisks required.

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Ingredients

4 servings

8 oz whole wheat pasta (penne or fusilli)
Eden Foods Organic Udon Whole Grain Pasta Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Pasta & Ancient Grains Thin Spaghetti 12 oz. Box De Cecco Fusilli No. 34 Slow Dried Whole Wheat Pasta Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Pasta & Ancient Grains 100% Whole Grain Penne Rigate 12 oz Al Dente Pasta Artisanal Fettuccine Whole Wheat - 12 Oz
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1 tsp salt, plus more for pasta water
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 pint (10 oz) cherry tomatoes, halved
½ tsp red pepper flakes
2 cans (5 oz each) tuna packed in olive oil, drained
1 tsp lime zest (from about 1 lime)
3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
¼ tsp black pepper
½ cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
¼ cup reserved pasta cooking water

For serving

1 avocado, sliced (optional)
lime wedges, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the whole wheat pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, tender with a slight resistance at the center. Before draining, scoop out 1/4 cup of the starchy cooking water and set it aside. Drain the pasta in a colander.
2
While the pasta cooks, heat 2 tbsp of the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant and just beginning to turn golden at the edges, about 1–2 minutes. Watch closely — garlic can brown quickly.

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