The most amazing canned tuna pasta!

User Reviews

5.0

369 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    10 mins

  • Cook Time

    10 mins

  • Servings

    2

  • Calories

    637 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    Italian

The most amazing canned tuna pasta!

Recipe video above. One of the pantry-pasta greats. I love this recipe because it really showcases what great food you can make using canned tuna! Fabulous flavour beyond just canned tuna thanks to the anchovies, the freshness of lemon and tangy capers. The oil from the can of tuna is used as the sauce so don't be tempted to use tuna in brine!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 200g / 7oz Spaghetti , or other thin long pasta
  • 1 tbsp cooking salt , for cooking pasta

Tuna sauce:

  • 285g/ 10 oz (approx) canned tuna in oil , drained, oil reserved (I use 3 x 95g/3.5oz cans, Note 1)
  • 2 clove garlic , finely minced
  • 2 anchovy fillets , minced (Note 2)
  • 1/2 tsp chilli flakes / red pepper flakes (can skip, Note 3)
  • 2 tsp baby capers (or finely chopped pickles)
  • 1 tbsp parsley , finely chopped (ok to skip)
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice (sub 1 tbsp apple cider or sherry vinegar)
  • 1/4 tsp cooking/kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
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Instructions

  1. Cook pasta - Bring 3 litres / 3 quarts of water to the boil with the 1 tablespoon of salt. Cook pasta per the packet time minus 1 minute. Just before draining, scoop out ~1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
  2. Sauté aromatics - In the same pot, heat the reserved oil from the tuna cans over medium heat. Add the garlic, anchovies and chilli flakes. Cook and stir for 1 minute.
  3. Toss pasta - Add the pasta, capers and 1/3 cup of reserved pasta water. Toss using 2 spatulas for 2 minutes.
  4. Add tuna - Turn off the heat. Add tuna, parsley, lemon zest, juice, salt and pepper. Toss gently to mix through - try to keep some tuna chunks.
  5. Serve immediately!

Notes

  • Tuna - Don't get too hung up on tuna quantity here, the recipe can take a little more or a little less. I use 3 x 95g/3.5 oz cans, the small "lunch size" cans. You just want enough tuna to serve 2 people.
  • If you only have tuna in brine, use 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil instead.
  • Anchovies add great flavour here. Substitute with 1 tsp anchovy paste. If you don't have either, it's still worth making if you're using tuna in oil as the oil has good flavour too!
  • Chilli flakes add just a background hum of warmth in this recipe. Feel free to dial it up or down.
  • Leftovers will keep for 2 days in the fridge though pasta never really reheats well, especially these types of pasta that don't come with loads of tomato or creamy sauce. Microwave reheating is best, with a splash of water (or better yet, keep some pasta cooking water!)

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 637cal (32%) Carbohydrates 77g (26%) Protein 41g (82%) Fat 17g (26%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 11g Trans Fat 0.01g Cholesterol 53mg (18%) Sodium 4157mg (173%) Potassium 531mg (15%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 257IU (5%) Vitamin C 9mg (10%) Calcium 66mg (7%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 637 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 637cal 32%
Carbohydrates 77g 26%
Protein 41g 82%
Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 11g 55%
Trans Fat 0.01g 1%
Cholesterol 53mg 18%
Sodium 4157mg 173%
Potassium 531mg 11%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 257IU 5%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Calcium 66mg 7%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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