5.0 from 117 votes
Canned Tuna Pasta Recipe From Italy
This recipe from the Aeolian Islands is a no-cook recipe, meaning you only cook the pasta. The combination of tuna, capers and mint mixed in lemon juice and olive oil gives this dressing a lot of flavour and the result is so fresh and summery.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 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
- Some people make this dish without using a blender or food processor, just mixing the sauce ingredients together in a bowl. The sauce can also be cooked, but I like it the way I have described in the recipe best.
- You can use other types of long or short pasta, depending on your preference. However I would recommend dried pasta not fresh if you want to make a creamier sauce using the pasta cooking water.
Nutrition Information
Calories
448kcal
(22%)
Carbohydrates
79g
(26%)
Protein
25g
(50%)
Fat
3g
(5%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Cholesterol
22mg
(7%)
Sodium
738mg
(31%)
Potassium
386mg
(11%)
Fiber
5g
(20%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
158IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
16mg
(18%)
Calcium
54mg
(5%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
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.