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Sometimes you have recipes so ingrained in your history, routine, and memory that you kind of forget that everyone doesn’t make them all the time as you do! My Tuna Pasta Recipe falls into this category. This recipe was one that I concocted in my early 20s living in NYC after college. It came about because the ingredients were cheap, they were relatively healthy, and I wanted to find a way to make a cheap meal feel elegant, and something I could feed to friends or my boyfriends (this has also been served to various boyfriends’ mothers with great acclaim. LOL). I also love that it’s fast! It is something I go to again and again when I’m just feeling burnt out, and I need something quick and easy to make for dinner that won’t break the bank. It was one of the first recipes I made for Ian, and it’s one that Marlowe now asks for again and again. We all love how the tanginess of the lemon mixes with the garlicky tuna and the peppery arugula. When I think of a truly nostalgic meal that my kids will talk about from their childhoods, this is one that I think of. And I consider it BANANAS that I’ve never thought to put my tuna recipe on the blog! Until now, witches! LOL.
I hope you guys try this tuna pasta and love it! It’s a great recipe for transitional weather like the season we’re heading into. Let me know your thoughts if you end up cooking this!
Ingredients…
- 1 package of spaghetti
- 2-3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 cans tuna
- 2-4 cloves of garlic, diced
- 1 pinch of red pepper flakes
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 2-4 cups of Arugula
- Salt and pepper to taste
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Step 1:
Boil Water and Cook Pasta
Begin by putting your pot of pasta water to boil. Don’t forget to salt it! When the pasta water is boiling, add the pasta and cook according to the package directions.
Step 2:
Sauté First Ingredients
Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium heat, add the Extra Virgin Olive Oil, the garlic, and the red pepper flakes. Sauté gently until the garlic begins to brown slightly around the edges. About five minutes.
Step 3:
Add Tuna
Open the cans of tuna, drain out the water, and add the tuna to the pan. Continue to cook, breaking up the tuna and stirring often, for about 5 more minutes.
Step 4:
Add Remaining Ingredients for Taste
Add the lemon juice and zest, and turn the flame down to medium/low, mixing to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Step 5:
Add Pasta Water to Pan
When the pasta is almost done cooking, reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water, and set it aside. Drain the pasta when it’s done, and add the reserved pasta water to the pan with the tuna. Stir to combine.
Step 6:
Add final ingredients and enjoy!
After the pasta is drained, add it to the saucepan, and use tongs to mix the pasta in with the tuna mixture. Add some arugula to the bottom of your serving bowl or plate. Top with the tuna pasta, and then add another sprinkle of arugula on top.
in this picture
My Tuna Pasta Recipe
Equipment
- 1 pot
- 1 Pan
- 1 mixing spoon
- 1 Strainer
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Microplane Grater
Ingredients
- 1 package spaghetti
- 2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cans tuna
- 2-4 cloves garlic, diced
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 lemon, zest and juice
- 2-4 cups arugula
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch pepper
Instructions
- Begin by putting your pot of pasta water to boil. Don't forget to salt it! When the pasta water is boiling, add the pasta and cook according to the package directions.
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium heat, add the Extra Virgin Olive Oil, the garlic, and the red pepper flakes. Sauté gently until the garlic begins to brown slightly around the edges. About five minutes.
- Open the cans of tuna, drain out the water, and add the tuna to the pan. Continue to cook, breaking up the tuna and stirring often, for about 5 more minutes.
- Add the lemon juice and zest, and turn the flame down to medium/low, mixing to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- When the pasta is almost done cooking, reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water, and set it aside. Drain the pasta when it's done, and add the reserved pasta water to the pan with the tuna. Stir to combine.
- After the pasta is drained, add it to the saucepan, and use tongs to mix the pasta in with the tuna mixture. Add some arugula to the bottom of your serving bowl or plate. Top with the tuna pasta, and then add another sprinkle of arugula on top. Enjoy!
Nutrition
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Thank you for sharing! I have other pastas with tuna I like. I’ll have to try this one.
This looks delicious and easy. Will definitely try in the near future. Thank you for sharing.
Looks and sounds delicious! Do you use albacore or chunk light?? Does it matter? Also, is the tuna packed in oil or water?
I use albacore, but it doesn’t matter. I use the tuna packed in water, but packed in oil also works, just make sure it’s drained first!
This was easy and simply delicious! The lemon mixed with garlic and tuna was a new combo for me! I added tiny cherry tomatoes too! So good!!!
Thank you!!!