Tuna pasta is such a great dinner to make when you don’t have much in the cupboard. For canned tuna recipe cynics out there – it’s time to take a leap of faith! This is seriously tasty, very economical and super fast – it comes together in 15 minutes flat, from start to finish.
Yes – canned tuna CAN be delicious!
I feel like the words “tasty meal” and “canned tuna” aren’t usually in the same sentence. Bad memories of poor cash strapped university days and crash diets, hastily thrown together tuna and rice, bland tuna salads, mayo-laden tuna sandwiches.
But you can make canned tuna delicious!!! Just a little bit of thought, a bit of imagination, a smidge of effort and a lot of anticipation for a hot, tasty meal as your reward.
Today’s reward in question? Tuna pasta. A spritz of lemon, a sprinkle of capers, and using the oil from the tuna can. You never knew a canned tuna pasta could be so delicious!!!
Ingredients in canned tuna pasta
No capers? Chop pickles instead. No lemon? Add a dash of vinegar. No anchovies? Still worth making! We get a really good (free) flavour boost by using the oil from the cans of tuna. Anchovies just makes it that little bit more special!
Garlic missing from the photo – oops! 🙂
Canned tuna – Tuna in oil is the go here! We use the oil from the can of tuna for the sauce to sauté the garlic until golden. No tuna in oil? It’s ok! Just use olive oil instead and tip the liquid from the can of tuna into the sauce.
TIP – Not all canned tuna is created equal. Premium canned tuna in a good fruity olive oil will set you back more than a generic home brand in tasteless canola oil. But also, premium canned tuna piled on crusty bread with a drizzle of the oil from the can is pure joy. I hope you try it one day. 🙂
Anchovies – Anchovies make everything taste better! Finely minced then sautéed in oil so they dissolve and lose the fishiness, just leaving great savouriness into the dish. I always have a jar in the fridge. Always! Anchovy paste – use 1 teaspoon.
Capers – For a pop of fresh tang! I like to use baby capers. If you only have large ones, give them a rough chop. No capers? Chop pickles instead!
Lemon – Juice for sour and zest for lemon flavour. It really does lift the dish so I hope you have it! Lemon is a staple ingredient I always have on hand. But if you don’t, this dish is still worth making. Add a dash of vinegar instead.
Chilli flakes / red pepper flakes – For a hum of warmth. This isn’t a spicy pasta. Substitute with finely chopped fresh chilli or a smidge of chilli paste or sauce (add this at the end). Or leave it out for no spiciness at all.
Parsley – For freshness. Not critical.
Pictured below is the tuna I’ve used, a mid-range one sold at supermarkets in Australia. I use 3 x 95g/3.5oz small cans which I feel is the right amount of protein for a pasta which serves 2 people. However, the recipe can take more or less tuna so don’t get too hung up on exact tuna quantity!
How to make canned tuna pasta
Get the pasta cooking then start preparing the ingredients for the sauce. That’s how you’ll get this on the table in 15 minutes flat, from start to finish!
Cook the pasta in salted water per packet directions minus 1 minute. The pasta will be slightly under al dente (ie underdone) but that’s ok. The pasta will finish cooking with the sauce, during which time it will absorb the tasty flavours of the sauce!
Reserve pasta cooking water – Just before draining, scoop out 1 cup of cooking water then drain the pasta. Why? Because we will be using this to make the sauce for the pasta. The starch in the pasta cooking water will react with the oil in the sauce to make it thicken so it clings to the pasta strands instead of remaining as a watery sauce at the bottom of the pan.
Tuna oil – Pour the oil from the tuna can(s) into the same pot and heat over medium heat.
Sauté garlic, anchovies and chilli flakes for 1 minute.
Pasta and water – Add the pasta, capers and 1/3 cup of reserved pasta water. Toss using 2 spatulas for 2 minutes. During this step, the oil and the starchy pasta cooking water will thicken into a sauce that clings to the pasta. Also during this step the pasta will finish cooking from just under al dente to al dente. If the pasta is still too firm for your taste, add more of the pasta cooking water and keep cooking the pasta.
Add tuna – Turn off the heat. Add tuna, parsley, lemon zest, juice, salt and pepper. Toss gently so the tuna stays in chunks and doesn’t crumble into tiny little bits.
Then serve immediately!
As with all pastas, this is at its prime freshly made, right off the stove, when the pasta is hot and slippery with sauce! If it’s sitting around for a while and the pasta cools down and dries out, it can be easily rejuvenated with a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water and a toss on the stove for 30 seconds or so, to reheat the pasta and make it slick with sauce again.
To make it a complete meal, don’t hesitate to throw in a couple of handfuls of rocket/arugula or baby spinach at the end. Else, serve it with a simple garden salad or whatever leafy greens / steam vegetables you’ve got tossed with an everyday salad dressing.
Enjoy! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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The most amazing canned tuna pasta!
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- Toss pasta – Add the pasta, capers and 1/3 cup of reserved pasta water. Toss using 2 spatulas for 2 minutes.
- 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.
- Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Got canned tuna? Dinner’s half done!
Life of Dozer
At my local coffee shop, Zubi in Newport (Sydney Northern Beaches). Best coffee in my area – I searched wide and far!!
I can’t wait to try this, but I just have one question. Would it be weird or take away from the recipe by adding freshly grated Parmesan/pecorino or tasty cheese? On top when serving? I am a massive cheese lover, don’t want to ruin the flavours of everything else. Thank you, Nagi😊
I think the main reason there’s no mention of cheese is that it’s a huge faux pas in Italy, an Italian would never put cheese on fish! I made this and when I reheated it I added some grated cheese to melt through and it was nice but I could totally see how it doesn’t quite go with the main flavour intention of it. Hope that helps!
Thank you so very much for your thoughts, in Greece. It is also the same you would not combine fish and cheese.
We moved away from Australia to Italy back in 1981 when I was 19. I am surprised to see that SIRENA tuna still exists over there…my mum always used that brand.
Loved this recipe. Great for a quick meal, as I always have these staples on hand. I didn’t have spaghetti, only angel hair and thought that too light for this dish. I used black squid ink pasta and it was delicious!!! Tossed in a bag of fresh baby spinach to up the veggie content. I loved this as is, hubby does not like citrus, so next time I will be trying this with the apple cider vinegar (sounds interesting) and sans the lemon zest. I love every recipe of yours that I have tried. I can’t wait to get your cookbook!!
made this last night. followed instructions to the t. this was simple and delicious. i am still dreaming about the flavors. the capers and lemon together were sublime. almost like a gourmet tuna noodle dish. thank you!!!
My Mum always said “if you have a tin o tuna or salmon in the cupboard you always have a meal ready to go.
Cooked this last night. It was sooooo good. So fresh and delicious, but best of all so quick and easy. Yum 😋
So easy and delicious with everything we already had in the pantry! Saved to favourites! The chilli was perfect…
So easy to make and delicious! We’re adding it to our rotation.
Im a dreadful cook. I made this last night and it was brilliant. Dare I say – impossible to stuff up!
OMG made this for dinner last night and what a winner. I had to use anchovy paste because I didn’t have whole ones, but you’re right, you don’t taste anchovy at all! I served it with your famous and easy Rocket salad. Great dish and lovely combination which will now be on my favourites list of easy and delicious!!!! (P.S. it’s a good dish for casual company dining too).
The very very best tuna/pasta i have ever ever had.
If you’re doing for 4 or more people a 3ltr pot is just not big enough i suggest using a Sauteuse (my go to pan for pasta and curries) or a wok just someting large enough to really be able to toss the pasta.A beautiful dish and so simple,outstanding.
Oh my goodness, I made this last night and it was divine. And so quick to whip up! It will be on high rotation in my house from now on. I omitted the anchovies because I don’t like them, but followed the recipe in every other respect
An absolute winner and a great budget meal too!
Made it this evening after reading your email this morning! Yummm. I added some SDTs (sun dried tomatoes) and a few olives as I had them in the fridge. Anchovies are essential!!!
I also use this canned tuna combination with couscous and chopped coriander. I especially enjoy the chilli flavoured tuna. 😉
Got the email this morning, made it for dinner!
I found the flavours really lovely, but not overwhelming (which I was worried about because I’m not a super big fan of fish).
This is a great recipe to add to my budget dinner list.
Thanks Nagi, these kinds of recipes are my favourite!
Well that was just delicious! Got this in my email this morning. I had no idea what I was going to cook for dinner and had everything in the house for this. Thanks. I would definitely make it again.
I was one of the canned tuna cynics….but will make this again!
I’m scared! Not a huge fan of tuna but my partner is and I’ll eat it – it wont kill me! I’ll use capers but anchovies? Just no!
I was delighted to see your cookbook on the top 10 non-fiction best-seller list in the Phoenix, AZ, USA, newspaper two Sundays ago!! (I was also delighted to read your cookbook. All your extremely hard work really paid off.
Haven’t done yet, but know that this is much better than even my Mom made!
My heart is with you as Dozer ages. My wife’s guide dog had to be retired as she has some visual problems though overall she is healthy. As I mentioned my hearth is with you on this journey as I am a retired guide dog trainer and have been with many guide dog units as they have reached the point of retirement and the passing of their guide.