5 from 78 votes
Canned Tuna Pasta Recipe From Italy
This Italian-style Canned Tuna Pasta mixes spaghetti with a fresh sauce made from tuna, salted capers, mint, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil. The sauce is briefly processed to create a textured blend enhanced by a touch of pasta cooking water, which helps emulsify the sauce with the noodles. The dish is seasoned simply with salt and black pepper, highlighting the briny and citrusy flavors.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings:
4
Calories:
448 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Mediterranean, Italian
Ingredients
- 14 oz pasta (I used spaghetti)
- 8.5 oz tuna canned or in a jar
- 3 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- ½ cup capers salted
- 6-8 mint fresh leaves
- 1 lemon
- salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Put a large pot of water onto boil for the pasta. Add salt once the water starts boiling.
- In a food processor or blender, add capers, mint leaves, tuna, extra virgin olive oil, juice from the lemon, and some grated lemon rind. Season the tuna mixture with freshly ground black pepper,
- Cook the pasta in the boiling salted water until al dente, as per the packet instructions. And before draining, reserve one cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Add half the saved pasta cooking water into the tuna mixture and pulse a few times until you have a rough sauce (you don't want the is to be too smooth).
- Add the drained pasta and tuna mixture into a large deep sauté pan or back into the pasta pot.
- Place the pan or pot over medium heat and add the remaining pasta water. Slowly stir the pasta and cook until the sauce slightly thickens and looks glossy.
- Turn off the heat and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately with a few whole capers and mint.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- The sauce can be mixed manually without a blender by combining ingredients in a bowl if preferred.
- Cooking the sauce before combining with pasta is an option, but blending as described preserves flavor and texture.
- Dried pasta is recommended over fresh to achieve a creamier sauce using pasta water.
Nutrition Information
Calories
448kcal
(22%)
Carbohydrates
79g
(26%)
Protein
25g
(50%)
Fat
3g
(5%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Cholesterol
22mg
(7%)
Sodium
738mg
(31%)
Potassium
386mg
(8%)
Fiber
5g
(20%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
158IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
16mg
(18%)
Calcium
54mg
(5%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 448
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 448kcal | 22% |
| Carbohydrates | 79g | 26% |
| Protein | 25g | 50% |
| Fat | 3g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 22mg | 7% |
| Sodium | 738mg | 31% |
| Potassium | 386mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 158IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 16mg | 18% |
| Calcium | 54mg | 5% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.