Tuna pasta is such a terrific dinner to make whenever you don’t have a lot within the cabinet. For canned tuna recipe cynics on the market – it’s time to take a leap of religion! That is severely tasty, very economical and tremendous quick – it comes collectively in quarter-hour flat, from begin to end.
Sure – canned tuna CAN be scrumptious!
I really feel just like the phrases “tasty meal” and “canned tuna” aren’t normally in the identical sentence. Dangerous recollections of poor money strapped college days and crash diets, swiftly thrown collectively tuna and rice, bland tuna salads, mayo-laden tuna sandwiches.
However you can make canned tuna scrumptious!!! Just a bit little bit of thought, a little bit of creativeness, a smidge of effort and lots of anticipation for a sizzling, tasty meal as your reward.
At present’s reward in query? Tuna pasta. A spritz of lemon, a sprinkle of capers, and utilizing the oil from the tuna can. You by no means knew a canned tuna pasta could possibly be so scrumptious!!!
Substances in canned tuna pasta
No capers? Chop pickles as a substitute. No lemon? Add a splash of vinegar. No anchovies? Nonetheless value making! We get a very good (free) flavour increase by utilizing the oil from the cans of tuna. Anchovies simply makes it that little bit extra particular!
Garlic lacking from the photograph – oops! 🙂
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Canned tuna – Tuna in oil is the go right here! We use the oil from the can of tuna for the sauce to sauté the garlic till golden. No tuna in oil? It’s okay! Simply use olive oil as a substitute and tip the liquid from the can of tuna into the sauce.
TIP – Not all canned tuna is created equal. Premium canned tuna in fruity olive oil will set you again greater than a generic dwelling model in tasteless canola oil. But additionally, premium canned tuna piled on crusty bread with a drizzle of the oil from the can is pure pleasure. I hope you strive it sooner or later. 🙂
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Anchovies – Anchovies make every little thing style higher! Finely minced then sautéed in oil so that they dissolve and lose the fishiness, simply leaving nice savouriness into the dish. I all the time have a jar within the fridge. At all times! Anchovy paste – use 1 teaspoon.
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Capers – For a pop of recent tang! I like to make use of child capers. For those who solely have massive ones, give them a tough chop. No capers? Chop pickles as a substitute!
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Lemon – Juice for bitter and zest for lemon flavour. It actually does elevate the dish so I hope you’ve got it! Lemon is a staple ingredient I all the time have available. However when you don’t, this dish remains to be value making. Add a splash of vinegar as a substitute.
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Chilli flakes / crimson pepper flakes – For a hum of heat. This isn’t a spicy pasta. Substitute with finely chopped recent chilli or a smidge of chilli paste or sauce (add this on the finish). Or go away it out for no spiciness in any respect.
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Parsley – For freshness. Not essential.
Pictured under is the tuna I’ve used, a mid-range one bought at supermarkets in Australia. I exploit 3 x 95g/3.5oz small cans which I really feel is the correct amount of protein for a pasta which serves 2 individuals. Nevertheless, the recipe can take roughly tuna so don’t get too hung up on precise tuna amount!
Easy methods to make canned tuna pasta
Get the pasta cooking then begin making ready the components for the sauce. That’s the way you’ll get this on the desk in quarter-hour flat, from begin to end!
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Cook dinner the pasta in salted water per packet instructions minus 1 minute. The pasta can be slightly below al dente (ie underdone) however that’s okay. The pasta will end cooking with the sauce, throughout which period it should take in the tasty flavours of the sauce!
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Reserve pasta cooking water – Simply earlier than draining, scoop out 1 cup of cooking water then drain the pasta. Why? As a result of we can be utilizing this to make the sauce for the pasta. The starch within the pasta cooking water will react with the oil within the sauce to make it thicken so it clings to the pasta strands as a substitute of remaining as a watery sauce on the backside of the pan.
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Tuna oil – Pour the oil from the tuna can(s) into the identical pot and warmth over medium warmth.
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Sauté garlic, anchovies and chilli flakes for 1 minute.
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Pasta and water – Add the pasta, capers and 1/3 cup of reserved pasta water. Toss utilizing 2 spatulas for two minutes. Throughout this step, the oil and the starchy pasta cooking water will thicken right into a sauce that adheres to the pasta. Additionally throughout this step the pasta will end cooking from slightly below al dente to al dente. If the pasta remains to be too agency on your style, add extra of the pasta cooking water and preserve cooking the pasta.
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Add tuna – Flip off the warmth. Add tuna, parsley, lemon zest, juice, salt and pepper. Toss gently so the tuna stays in chunks and doesn’t crumble into tiny little bits.
Then serve instantly!
As with all pastas, that is at its prime freshly made, proper off the range, when the pasta is sizzling and slippery with sauce! If it’s sitting round for some time and the pasta cools down and dries out, it may be simply rejuvenated with a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water and a toss on the range for 30 seconds or so, to reheat the pasta and make it slick with sauce once more.
To make it an entire meal, don’t hesitate to throw in a few handfuls of rocket/arugula or child spinach on the finish. Else, serve it with a easy backyard salad or no matter leafy greens / steam greens you’ve bought tossed with an on a regular basis salad dressing.
Get pleasure from! – Nagi x
Watch how one can make it
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Probably the most wonderful canned tuna pasta!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook dinner: 15 minutes
Mains
Italian
Servings2
Faucet or hover to scale
Directions
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Cook dinner pasta – Carry 3 litres / 3 quarts of water to the boil with the 1 tablespoon of salt. Cook dinner pasta per the packet time minus 1 minute. Simply earlier than draining, scoop out ~1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
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Sauté aromatics – In the identical pot, warmth the reserved oil from the tuna cans over medium warmth. Add the garlic, anchovies and chilli flakes. Cook dinner and stir for 1 minute.
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Toss pasta – Add the pasta, capers and 1/3 cup of reserved pasta water. Toss utilizing 2 spatulas for two minutes.
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Add tuna – Flip off the warmth. Add tuna, parsley, lemon zest, juice, salt and pepper. Toss gently to combine by – attempt to preserve some tuna chunks.
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Serve instantly!
Recipe Notes:
For those who solely have tuna in brine, use 2 tablespoons of additional virgin olive oil as a substitute.
2. Anchovies add nice flavour right here. Substitute with 1 tsp anchovy paste. For those who don’t have both, it’s nonetheless value making when you’re utilizing tuna in oil because the oil has good flavour too!
3. Chilli flakes add only a background hum of heat on this recipe. Be at liberty to dial it up or down.
4. Leftovers will preserve for two days within the fridge although pasta by no means actually reheats nicely, particularly all these pasta that don’t include a great deal of tomato or creamy sauce. Microwave reheating is finest, with a splash of water (or higher but, preserve some pasta cooking water!)
Vitamin Info:
Energy: 637cal (32%)Carbohydrates: 77g (26%)Protein: 41g (82%)Fats: 17g (26%)Saturated Fats: 3g (19%)Polyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 11gTrans Fats: 0.01gLdl cholesterol: 53mg (18%)Sodium: 4157mg (181%)Potassium: 531mg (15%)Fiber: 4g (17%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 257IU (5%)Vitamin C: 9mg (11%)Calcium: 66mg (7%)Iron: 4mg (22%)
Bought canned tuna? Dinner’s half carried out!
Lifetime of Dozer
At my native espresso store, Zubi in Newport (Sydney Northern Seashores). Finest espresso in my space – I searched huge and much!!
