I’ve authored greater than my justifiable share of pantry pasta recipes on this website, however the one I flip to probably the most is from my outdated colleague and buddy Sasha Marx. On an evening when I’m caught in an “oh crap I must feed the youngsters and it is virtually bedtime” second (which is most nights, if I am being sincere), his recipe for pasta al tonno is the one I virtually at all times make. The result’s assured to be extra particular than the effort and time I put into it could counsel.

With simply the fundamentals within the cabinet—a can of tomatoes, some olive oil–packed tuna, garlic, dried spaghetti, pink pepper flakes—it is a breathtaking dish that may be whipped up in minutes. Boil the pasta, fry the garlic till flippantly golden, simmer the sauce, flake within the tuna, toss all of it collectively, and achieved. The parsley is a pleasant addition, a contact of contemporary inexperienced taste added proper earlier than serving, nevertheless it’s elective. The pasta is best with it, nevertheless it’s nonetheless nice with out it.

Suggestions for Making the Greatest Pasta With Tuna

I solely have a few suggestions. The primary is an often-repeated one: The standard of the elements issues. With so few elements, pasta al tonno solely actually shines when the canned tomatoes are nice ones; when the tuna will not be your run-of-the-mill dry puck that is finest combined with mayo for tuna salad (canned ventresca, the stomach, is a splurge, nevertheless it’s nice right here); and when the spaghetti has that tough texture from bronze-die extrusion and never the slick, plasticky really feel of a budget grocery store stuff.

The second is to take your time. Sure, this can be a fast recipe. However let the garlic flip golden slowly, creating its taste and infusing into the oil with out taking up an acrid, over-fried taste. Make sure you pull the pasta a bit early from the water and end it within the sauce so it is coated in a slick, tomatoey glaze. All instructed, it is an additional two or three minutes, insignificant within the scheme of issues, however essential within the execution of the dish.

The result’s a scrumptious, brilliant, and fruity tomato sauce, studded with substantial morsels of tuna and a lightweight marine taste that may even make a Tuesday night time style such as you’re on the Italian Riviera.

June, 2025