Tuna Sauce for Pasta

Elevate your pasta night with this quick and flavor-packed Tuna Sauce for Pasta, a Mediterranean-inspired recipe perfect for busy weeknights or casual family dinners. Featuring pantry staples like canned tuna in olive oil, tomato passata, and a hint of red chili flakes for subtle heat, this sauce comes together in just 20 minutes. Fresh garlic and parsley add a fragrant, herbaceous touch, while optional capers deliver a briny pop of flavor. Toss it with your favorite pasta, from spaghetti to linguine, for a comforting and satisfying meal that's both simple and sophisticated. Perfect for seafood lovers, this tuna pasta sauce is a delicious way to transform humble ingredients into an elegant dish.

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 3 cloves Garlic cloves
• 0.5 teaspoons Red chili flakes
• 2 5-ounce cans Canned tuna in olive oil
• 1 cups Tomato passata (or crushed tomatoes)
• 1 tablespoons Capers (optional)
• 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley
• 0 to taste Salt
• 0 to taste Black pepper
• 12 ounces Pasta of choice (spaghetti, linguine, etc.)

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining.

Step 2

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Step 3

Finely mince the garlic cloves and add them to the hot oil. Sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant but not browned.

Step 4

Add the red chili flakes to the skillet and stir for a few seconds to infuse the oil with a bit of heat.

Step 5

Drain the canned tuna slightly, leaving a little bit of the oil for flavor, and add the tuna to the skillet. Break it up into smaller chunks with a wooden spoon.

Step 6

Pour in the tomato passata and stir well. Simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Step 7

If desired, stir in capers for a tangy, briny note.

Step 8

Chop the fresh parsley and add it to the sauce in the last few minutes of cooking, reserving a little for garnish.

Step 9

Season the sauce with salt and black pepper to taste.

Step 10

Toss the cooked and drained pasta into the skillet with the tuna sauce, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.

Step 11

Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	924 grams (924.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1449

Total Fat 66.30g	85%
Saturated Fat 10.50g	53%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.70g
Cholesterol 142mg	47%
Sodium 3474mg	151%
Total Carbohydrate 125.80g	46%
Dietary Fiber 11.20g	40%
Total Sugars 14.10g
Protein 86.60g	173%

Vitamin D 568IU	2840%
Calcium 126mg	10%
Iron 11mg	62%
Potassium 1688mg	36%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 41.3%

Protein: 24.0%

Carbs: 34.8%