If you like quick and easy weeknight dinners that are also healthy, this canned Tuna Pasta Recipe is for you. All you need are some simple ingredients and 15 minutes.
⅛teaspooncrushed red pepper flakes or more, optional
133gramscanned tunawater-packed
reserved pasta waterseparated
¼cupItalian flat-leaf parsleychopped, fresh
¼cupPecorino Romano Cheesegrated
extra cheese and parsley to garnish with optional, to garnish
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions minus 1 minute.
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, over medium-high heat. Swirl to coat the entire pan.
Lower the heat to medium and add the cherry tomatoes. Saute for 1-2 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Add the minced garlic, a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes and sauté for another minute or so.
Add the drained can of tuna, breaking up some of the chunks.
Remove a ladle of the pasta water and add it to the pan. Gently combine the ingredients together and simmer for about 1 minute or so to heat up the tuna.
Turn the heat to low.
When the pasta is done, reserve 1 ladle of pasta water, then drain and toss with the tuna in the pan.
If the mixture appears dry, add a little of the reserved pasta water.
Add the chopped parsley and Pecorino Romano Cheese and toss together in the pan.
Serve immediately. If desired garnish with grated cheese and more parsley.
Notes
Placing a lid on a pot makes the water boil faster.
Use high-quality ingredients.
Fresh garlic is a must, do not be tempted to replace it with garlic powder.
Add as little or as much crushed red pepper flakes that you can tolerate. You can easily replace hot chili peppers.
The recipe can easily be doubled.
You can leave the tuna as chunks, break it up, or a combination of both.
Cook the pasta at the same time the veggies are being sauteed so that both are ready at the same time.
Undercook the pasta by one minute as it finishes cooking in the pan with the tuna.
Add the tuna at the end, just before adding the pasta, to prevent it from drying out.
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used.