This study aimed at evaluating the potential of pectin combination with pea protein isolate (PPI) in the microencapsulation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)-rich oil by spray drying, in order to maximize encapsulation efficiency and minimize lipid oxidation. The feed emulsions used for particle production consisted of PUFA-rich oil droplets coated by either PPI (primary emulsion) or PPI–pectin (secondary emulsion). Dry emulsions characteristics and oxidative stability of microencapsulated oil as a function of relative humidity (RH; from 11 % to 75 %) were determined. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed considerable structural changes. Oil droplets retained their shape upon drying and reconstitution. However, a shift in oil droplet size upon reconstitution indicated that oil droplet coalescence occurred within the process. Oxidation of microencapsulated oil in secondary emulsion was delayed from that of primary emulsion but followed the same pattern with regards to humidity. A high rate of oxidation was found for intermediate RH conditions (33 % and 57 % RH). The lowest rate of oxidation as followed by hydroperoxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values was found at 75 % RH, a condition that is likely to diverge significantly from the monolayer moisture value. The oxidative stability of encapsulated oil was influenced by both physical state of the emulsions and the different constituents at the oil-in-water interface with PPI–pectin secondary emulsion giving the best protection of the oil.