Pesto Pasta with Grilled Tuna and Green Beans is a vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired dish that combines the aromatic, herby goodness of pesto with the richness of grilled tuna and the crispness of green beans. This dish offers a perfect balance of textures and flavors, with the creamy, herbaceous pesto complementing the smoky tuna and the fresh green beans, creating a satisfying and healthy meal that’s both light and indulgent.
The base of this dish is pasta, typically spaghetti or any pasta of your choice, cooked al dente. The pasta is then tossed in a generous amount of pesto sauce, made from fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. The pesto brings a burst of bright, herbal flavor that coats the pasta beautifully.
The star of the dish is the grilled tuna. Fresh tuna steaks are seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and a touch of olive oil before being grilled to your preferred doneness. The tuna adds a smoky, meaty element to the dish, offering a rich contrast to the fresh, herbaceous pesto. Grilling the tuna enhances its natural flavor, giving it a slightly charred exterior and a tender, juicy interior.
Green beans are lightly blanched or sautéed, adding a crisp texture and a pop of color to the dish. Their slight bitterness provides a lovely contrast to the richness of the pesto and tuna, while also adding a refreshing crunch.
Once everything is prepared, the grilled tuna is sliced and placed atop the pesto-coated pasta, with the green beans tossed in for added freshness and texture. A sprinkle of Parmesan or extra pine nuts can be added for extra richness, or a drizzle of lemon juice for a touch of brightness.
Pesto Pasta with Grilled Tuna and Green Beans is a perfect dish for a light summer dinner, a weekend meal, or when you want something that’s both filling and refreshing. The combination of fresh ingredients, smoky tuna, and aromatic pesto makes it an irresistible choice.
In summary, this dish is a harmonious blend of tender pasta, grilled tuna, and crisp green beans, all brought together with a fragrant, creamy pesto sauce. It’s a perfect balance of flavors and textures, making it a go-to for seafood lovers looking for a fresh and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whole wheat pasta
- 2 tuna steaks
- 1 cup green beans trimmed
- 1 cup Basil leaves fresh
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Season the tuna steaks with salt and pepper. Grill for 3-4 minutes per side or until desired doneness. Set aside to rest.
- Blanch the green beans in boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- In a food processor, combine the basil, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Process until smooth.
- In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the pesto sauce. Add the green beans and toss to combine.
- Slice the grilled tuna steaks and serve over the pesto pasta and green beans.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Simple and quick! Perfect for a weeknight dinner! Gonna make again.
I didn’t have parmesan, so I used cheddar instead. Not sure if that was a good idea.
Followed it pretty much exactly. My pesto was a little thick, but a splash more olive oil fixed it. Green beans were perfectly crisp-tender.
Ok but whole wheat pasta with tuna? Sounds kinda weird to me. I’ll try it though… if it flops my bad 😅
Loved it! Healthy and light! Even my picky kids ate it without a fuss!
Green beans + pesto is underrated. I used slightly more parmesan because I like it salty, and it came out great. Would definitely make again.
This was an epic fail for me. My pasta got mushy and the green beans were tough. Maybe I did somethin wrong.
Sorry to hear that! Maybe try cooking the pasta for a shorter time next time? It can get mushy if overcooked.
Tuna on pasta is a little intimidating, not gonna lie, but it ended up working. I grilled the tuna 3 min per side and it was juicy.
Totally get that—tuna on pasta sounds a little weird at first, but grilled like that makes sense. 3 min a side is exactly where it stays juicy. I’m trying this!
Actually sounds pretty good, I’m surprised. I would never think to put tuna on pesto pasta but yeah, why not.
I mean… pesto is strong, so I guess tuna won’t ruin it. But whole wheat pasta with tuna feels kinda “healthy punishment” vibes 😂. Still, I’d try it once.
Right?! Tuna + pesto sounds weird on paper but it actually makes sense—garlicky, salty, briny. I might add some cherry tomatoes next time.
Yum!!! So fresh and healthy. I don’t even like green beans, but they worked in this. Gonna make it again for sure.
Glad you liked it! The fresh ingredients really make a difference. I’ve never thought of green beans that way, but I’ll give it a shot!
I’m not sure about green beans in pasta. Sounds weird! Can’t they be replaced with broccoli or somethin’?
Meh. Pasta felt bland, I add some hot sauce for flavor.
Homemade pesto with lemon is 🔥. I added a tiny pinch of chili flakes and wow. Would absolutely make again.
Wait, you added pesto with lemon… but the recipe already has lemon juice in it? either way it sounds fire. I might try it next time but I’m scared of making it too tart lol.
Totally agree—lemon really brightens pesto. Chili flakes are a great call. 😄 Making this again for sure.
Not sure about blanching the beans for exactly 2 minutes. I like mine softer and this was a bit crisp for me—next time I’ll go longer.
I made something similar once and the pesto was kinda thick; here using that olive oil should help. Can’t wait to try!
This dish is amazing! The grilled tuna adds such a nice touch.
I tried it but the pesto was too garlicky for my taste. Maybe cut back on the garlic?
Really tasty, but the ingredient list says “1 Lemon juice” like it’s missing punctuation. I assumed it meant 1 lemon and it was fine.
Totally agree—“1 Lemon juice” looks like a formatting glitch. I also read it as 1 lemon worth of juice and it worked great.
This was a delightful dish! The pesto matched perfectly with the grilled tuna. Will make again!
Pretty solid recipe, but my pesto was way too thick so I had to loosen it with a splash of pasta water. Next time I’ll probably use a bit more olive oil.
Ok but why blanch the green beans and then grill the tuna—seems like a lot of steps. Still ate it all though 😅
Honestly, blanching keeps the green beans bright and crisp so they don’t get all soggy on the plate. The tuna cooks fast anyway, so it’s not too crazy 😄