Tuna Pasta

evelyn/athens's Note:

This is an emergency 'quickie' meal in my home. When time is short and I want to get something nutritious and tasty on the table fast, this is the meal I inevitably turn to as it is made with store-cupboard staples and everyone loves it.

• Total Time: 20 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 (9 1/4 ounce) can tuna, drained
• 1 (1 lb) can chopped tomato with juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced (1 1/2 tsps) or 2 tablespoons dried basil (1 1/2 tsps)
• red pepper flakes
• 3/4 lb of your favourite pasta, cooked al dente and tossed with 1 tblsp butter (we like to eat this sauce with pasta 'curls' so the little bits of tuna can get caught in the curls)
• grated parmesan cheese, for the table

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan and add the onion; saute onion until it is translucent, 2-3 minutes, then add tomatoes and garlic; season to taste with salt, pepper and red-pepper flakes and boil over medium heat for 10-12 minutes until thickened somewhat; add basil and simmer 2 more minutes; add tuna, turn off heat and allow to 'sit' (flavours will blend) for 5 minutes.
2. This makes a very thick, flavourful sauce (you can thin with a little boiling water or some of the pasta cooking water if it's too thick for your liking).
3. Distribute pasta amongst 4 plates and top with sauce; pass grated parmesan cheese at the table or, alternatively, toss pasta and sauce together, then serve, passing grated cheese.
4. Note: If you don't want your sauce to be as 'chunky', you can puree the tomatoes before using.

Reviews

[Chef #975299]

Really easy comfort food - I was looking for something with minimal work and using the last of my stores until I go grocery shopping again. Easy to make, very tasty - no extra shopping to do because you can find almost all the ingredients in your pantry.

[Chef metal]

I was looking for a quick and easy tuna meal without resorting to the processed boxed stuff and I must say I was quite surprised. I wasn't sure I would like the taste of tuna with tomatoes but I really enjoyed this. The directions didn't make clear the amount of dried basil so I just added 1 teaspoon and I also used half of one box of pasta (penne 8 oz) and it was still a little too much. I would suggest that anyone who likes their pasta wet, to use a little less than 8oz of pasta. Next time I might try to add a little oregeno and milk to give it a creamy flavor. Thank you!

[bedeah]

This was a great and easy recipe....I'm getting ready to move and needed to get rid of a lot of the stuff in my pantry. I made a few substitutions (for example, dried onion flakes instead of chopped onion), but the end result was delicious and I've gotten requests to make it again soon!