Across Italy
Tuna Tomato Pasta
Tuna Tomato Pasta
A warm pasta in which lightly drained tuna is sautéed, simmered briefly with tomato sauce, and spooned over hot spaghetti.
Dishes in this family
Each dish keeps its own guide; compare the ingredient and preparation differences here.
PomodoroPasta in tomato sauce. The same dish becomes a different one depending on which canned tomatoes you use, the simmer time, the amount of oil, and how the basil is added.Read this dish →
Gnocchi alla SorrentinaHomemade potato gnocchi are coated in basil tomato sauce, layered twice with mozzarella and Parmigiano, and finished briefly under high heat.Read this dish →
Pasta alla SorrentinaFusilli is coated in garlic-and-basil tomato sauce, layered twice with mozzarella and Parmigiano, and broiled briefly.Read this dish →
Tomato Sausage PastaPenne with browned sausage, white wine, cherry tomatoes and Pecorino.Read this dish →
Bell Pepper PastaPenne with strips of red and yellow pepper braised in an anchovy-tomato sauce.Read this dish →
Spaghetti with MusselsSpaghetti with strained mussel liquor folded into tomato sauce and the meat returned late.Read this dish →
Lobster SpaghettiSpaghetti in a concentrated tomato sauce flavoured by lobster seared in its shell and white wine.Read this dish →Meet the dish
A contemporary variation documented in Japanese-language recipe material; no specific regional origin has been verified
Sauté tuna first for a lightly toasted edge, then carry its savoriness into a warm tomato sauce.
Pasta shapes to use
- Spaghetti
Key ingredients
- Canned tuna
- Basic tomato sauce
- Olive oil
Follow the cooking scenes
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Step 1: Flake the tuna
Drain the tuna lightly and break it into large pieces, retaining a little oil and moisture.
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Step 2: Sauté the tuna
Cook the tuna in a lightly oiled pan until surface moisture evaporates. Season conservatively.
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Step 3: Warm the tomato sauce
Add tomato sauce and bring it to one brief simmer, preserving both the tuna pieces and bright acidity.
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Step 4: Serve over hot pasta
Spoon the hot sauce over freshly cooked spaghetti and serve immediately without chilling the noodles.
What to watch for
- Drain tuna only lightly so it does not become dry.
- Keep this preparation warm by cooking both tuna and tomato sauce in the pan.
What sets it apart
This is a warm cooked sauce, unlike chilled pasta tossed with raw tomato.