Tuna pasta is such a fantastic dinner to make if 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 significantly 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, rapidly 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 plenty of anticipation for a sizzling, tasty meal as your reward.
In the present day’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 may very well be so scrumptious!!!
Components in canned tuna pasta
No capers? Chop pickles as a substitute. No lemon? Add a touch of vinegar. No anchovies? Nonetheless value making! We get a extremely good (free) flavour enhance through the use of the oil from the cans of tuna. Anchovies simply makes it that little bit extra particular!
Garlic lacking from the picture – 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 house 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 at some point. 🙂
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Anchovies – Anchovies make the whole lot style higher! Finely minced then sautéed in oil so that they dissolve and lose the fishiness, simply leaving nice savouriness into the dish. I at all times have a jar within the fridge. At all times! Anchovy paste – use 1 teaspoon.
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Capers – For a pop of contemporary tang! I like to make use of child capers. In the event you solely have giant 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 carry the dish so I hope you may have it! Lemon is a staple ingredient I at all times have readily available. However should you don’t, this dish continues to be value making. Add a touch of vinegar as a substitute.
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Chilli flakes / purple pepper flakes – For a hum of heat. This isn’t a spicy pasta. Substitute with finely chopped contemporary 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 vital.
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. Nonetheless, the recipe can take kind of tuna so don’t get too hung up on precise tuna amount!
The right way to make canned tuna pasta
Get the pasta cooking then begin getting ready the substances 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 might be just below al dente (ie underdone) however that’s okay. The pasta will end cooking with the sauce, throughout which era it’s going to 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 might 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 just below al dente to al dente. If the pasta continues to be too agency on your style, add extra of the pasta cooking water and maintain 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 received tossed with an on a regular basis salad dressing.
Take pleasure in! – Nagi x
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Essentially 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 – Deliver 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 means of – attempt to maintain some tuna chunks.
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Serve instantly!
Recipe Notes:
In the event you 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. In the event you don’t have both, it’s nonetheless value making should 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 happy to dial it up or down.
4. Leftovers will maintain for two days within the fridge although pasta by no means actually reheats effectively, particularly a majority of these pasta that don’t include a great deal of tomato or creamy sauce. Microwave reheating is greatest, with a splash of water (or higher but, maintain 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%)
Obtained canned tuna? Dinner’s half completed!
Lifetime of Dozer
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